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CONTENTS
False Creek. Amanda Catching photo.
r
17
BOOKS
A new book called The Georgia Straight: A 50th Anniversary Celebration recalls the stories behind this newspaper’s most striking and memorable covers over the past five decades, > BY CHARLIE SMITH
23
NEWS
Chief Robert Joseph overcame a brutal education in Alert Bay’s residential school to become B.C.’s voice for reconciliation. > CHARLIE SMITH
25
GREEN LIVING
Tesla, Volvo, and Toyota might be leading the charge for battery-operated cars, but Vancouver’s Corvus Energy is taking that technology to the sea. > BY K ATE WILSON
31
START HERE 79 66 119 71 104 122 27 127 28 15 53 98 56 103
The Bottle Cannabis Confessions Food I Saw You Local Discs Real Estate Savage Love Straight Stars Straight Talk Style Theatre Urban Living Visual Arts
COVER
Welcome to the Georgia Straight’s 22nd annual Best of Vancouver issue, wherein we inform you of all the superlatives offfered by our wonderful city by the sea.
91
ARTS
The Blind Boys of Alabama’s Jimmy Carter is a walking embodiment of history, and now his memories have worked their way into songs. > BY ALE X ANDER VART Y
TIME OUT 105 83 29 123
Arts Dine Out Events Music
SERVICES 124 Careers 27 Real Estate
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MOVIES
Yes, mother! really is out-of-control crazy; Ben Stiller updates us on Brad’s Status; The Time of Their Lives isn’t exactly ours; a flagging U.S. spirit underlines Stronger.
113
MUSIC
If Nardwuar the Human Serviette has learned anything during his fabled career, it’s that you have to stay curious. > BY MIKE USINGER
124
COVER ILLUSTRATION
GeorgiaStraight @GeorgiaStraight @GeorgiaStraight
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straight talk TIME FRAME BIG FEAR WITH $15 MINIMUM WAGE
Under the former Liberal government, a campaign to see B.C.’s minimum wage rise to $15 an hour looked like a pipe dream. “The Liberals would have gotten there in 2032,” B.C. Federation of Labour president Irene Lanzinger told the Straight. “That was our calculation based on inflation.” Then, in July, the NDP came to power after promising $15 by 2021. But on August 31, the party announced it had scrapped the 2021 deadline and instead was appointing a Fair Wages Commission to study the issue and make recommendations on the best path to $15. Asked where the campaign stands today, Lanzinger told the Straight that she looks at the NDP’s break from its election promise as a blessing in disguise. “The government has still committed to it; the question is when,” she explained. “We think we have very good evidence that it should be sooner than 2021.” Lanzinger noted that a $15-an-hour minimum wage isn’t the moon shot it once was. Alberta has plans to get there by the end of October 2018, and Ontario has proposed a deadline of January 2019. As of September 15, when B.C.’s lowest-income earners received a 50-cent raise that was previously scheduled by the Liberals, the minimum wage stands at $11.35. David Green is a professor with UBC’s Vancouver School of Economics. In a telephone interview, he argued that $15 makes sense for B.C. because it would position people just above the poverty line. According to Statistics Canada calculations for 2014 (the most recent data available), the poverty line for a metropolitan area stands at a beforetax income of $24,328. If a B.C. resident is paid $15 an hour for 35 hours a week 52 weeks of the year, they’ll earn $27,300 before taxes. So although $15 might sound like an arbitrary number, Green maintained that it is actually an appropriate minimum, if somewhat by coincidence. But, he emphasized, the trick is for $15 to still be worth $15 when B.C.’s lowest-income earners actually get there. “If you wait 10 years and inflation erodes it, then a person may get $15 but they’ll still be working full-year,
full-time and fall below the poverty line,” he explained. The B.C. Ministry of Labour expects to name the commission members in “the next few weeks”. A spokesperson told the Straight that from there, it’s “feasible” it could report back before the end of 2017. > TRAVIS LUPICK
NPA’S AFFLECK MULLS OVER MAYORAL BID
Vancouver councillor George Affleck says he’ll do things differently than Mayor Gregor Robertson if he becomes the next mayor. “I’m certainly—on the fiscal side—more prudent than Gregor,” Affleck told the Straight in a phone interview. “I look at things…with a financial lens first.” Affleck further contrasted himself with Robertson—who is not shy about commenting on provincial and federal matters—by saying: “I’ve been very careful not to make enemies of other levels of government no matter who they are, and I continue to do it that way…I think it’s important that the relationship with other levels of government is positive.” First elected in 2011 and now in his second term, the Non-Partisan Association councillor believes he could do a good job as mayor. “My approach will be quite different than Gregor’s, and I think I could be effective as a mayor,” Affleck said. Robertson and his Vision Vancouver party have been in power for almost 10 years, and a general election is coming up in October 2018. “There’s certainly a lot of interest for me, and a lot of people have been encouraging me to seek the job,” Affleck said. Although he knows how the city works, the 52-year-old father of three said that he’s also aware of “where the challenges are”. “That significant knowledge of city hall, I think, for anybody is helpful as opposed to somebody who’s coming from the outside, who’s never been there. I think that will be very challenging. I’m sure Gregor found it that way when he was first elected. You know, it helps and it hinders your decision,” Affleck said. Affleck said that the decision as to whether or not he will run for mayor is one that he and his family have yet to make. > CARLITO PABLO
VPD DETAINS FEWER UNDER MENTAL HEALTH ACT
For several years, Vancouver police officers’ use of the B.C. Mental Health Act to detain people only went up. It was an alarming trend, because the act is used to restrict a person’s rights and freedoms despite them never having committed a crime. In 2010, there were 2,276 VPD apprehensions under Section 28 of the act, which allows an officer to take an individual into police custody if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others. The number grew each year until 2015, when it hit 3,050. But since 2015, Section 28s, as they’re referred to, have fallen sharply, to 2,822 in 2016 and a projected 2,061 in 2017. In a telephone interview, VPD inspector Howard Tran, who heads the force’s mental-health portfolio, called it a “really good-news story”. “I think we’ve got a bit of a handle on things,” he told the Straight, “although it is still a big issue.” Tran said the significant drop in Section 28 apprehensions is largely the result of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, which sees VPD officers accompany nurses and social workers to deliver mental-health care in communities where patients live. He explained that the VPD found a relatively small number of Vancouver residents were responsible for a hugely disproportionate portion of Section 28 apprehensions. “If we targeted the top 20 percent responsible for 80 percent of resources, what would happen?” Tran recalled asking himself before the program’s launch, back in 2012. “This is what’s happened.…Our ACT clients, who used to generate a lot of our Section 28s, they are responsible for a lot of the decrease.” Despite some success, Tran cautioned that it is still too often that Vancouver police find themselves on the frontlines of the city’s mental-health-care system. He noted that so far this year, approximately 17.5 percent of all VPD incident reports include a mental-health component. “Is it still a crisis?” Tran asked. “I don’t know. But that’s still a lot.” For more on this story, see Straight.com. > TRAVIS LUPICK
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The Georgia Straight | Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly | Volume 51 Number 2594 1635 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W9 www.straight.com Phone: 604-730-7000 / Fax: 604-730-7010 / e-mail: gs.info@straight.com Display Advertising: 604-730-7020 / Fax: 604-730-7012 / e-mail: sales@straight.com Classifieds: 604-730-7060 / e-mail: classads@straight.com Subscriptions: 604-730-7000 Distribution: 604-730-7087 EDITOR + PUBLISHER Dan McLeod ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Yolanda Stepien GENERAL MANAGER Matt McLeod EDITOR Charlie Smith SECTION EDITORS
Janet Smith (Arts/Fashion) Mike Usinger (Music) Steve Newton (Time Out) Adrian Mack (Movies) Brian Lynch (Books) Amanda Siebert (Cannabis) EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR Doug Sarti ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Gail Johnson, John Lucas, Alexander Varty STAFF WRITERS
Tammy Kwan, Lucy Lau, Travis Lupick, Carlito Pablo, Craig Takeuchi, Kate Wilson SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jennie Ramstad PROOFREADER Pat Ryffranck CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gregory Adams, Nathan Caddell, David Chau, Jack Christie, Jennifer Croll, Ken Eisner (Movies), George Fetherling, Tara Henley, Michael Hingston, Ng Weng Hoong, Alex Hudson, Kurtis Kolt,
Robin Laurence (Visual Arts), Mark Leiren-Young, John Lekich, Amy Lu, Bob Mackin, Michael Mann, Rose Marcus, Beth McArthur, Verne McDonald, Allan MacInnis, Guy MacPherson, Tony Montague, Kathleen Oliver, Ben Parfitt, Vivian Pencz, Bill Richardson, Gurpreet Singh, Jacqueline Turner, Andrea Warner, Jessica Werb, Stephen Wong, Alan Woo CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Alfonso Arnold, Rebecca Blissett, Trevor Brady, Louise Christie, Emily Cooper, Randall Cosco, Krystian Guevara, Evaan Kheraj, Kris Krug, Tracey Kusiewicz, Kevin Langdale, Shayne Letain, Matt Mignanelli, Mark “Atomos” Pilon, Carlo Ricci, William Ting, Alex Waterhouse-Hayward DIGITAL PRODUCT MANAGER
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BOOKS
New book celebrates Straight’s 50th year Writer Doug Sarti and publisher and cofounder Dan McLeod ventured into the newspaper equivalent of a time capsule to tell tales of the past > B Y C HA R LIE SMI TH
E
arlier this month, one of the Georgia Straight’s most popular employees, Doug Sarti, sent an email to the staff letting them in on the company’s latest news. “Hey everyone,” he stated, “Dan and I wrote a book!” “Dan”, of course, is the Straight’s publisher Dan McLeod, and the book is called The Georgia Straight: A 50th Anniversary Celebration. Published by Rocky Mountain Books, it features dozens of covers of the newspaper dating back five decades, along with Sarti and McLeod’s general descriptions of what was included in each of those issues. “We pretty much just holed ourselves up in the archives and went through the printed copies of every single issue—more than 2,500 in total,” Sarti said. “Just getting through them all took a huge amount of time.” He likened it to climbing into a time capsule, because he and McLeod were reviewing articles on everything from the Summer of Love to Watergate, from the punk explosion to Expo 86. “In this age of cultural sensitivity, it’s easy to forget that Vancouver of the mid-’60s could be a pretty repressive place if you were anything other than a middle-class WASP,” Sarti noted. “A lot of people just didn’t have a voice in the media of the day. The Straight provided a platform for a number of disenfranchised groups, such as gays, Aboriginal people, and of course, the rapidly expanding counterculture.” The book’s centrepiece is a breathtaking array of Straight cover images, which were compiled with the assistance of the family-owned company’s general manager, Matt McLeod. In the early years, covers included a photo of the bulletridden body of Argentine revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara, a Peter Almasy illustration of a cartoon character named Acidman, and a devilish drawing of former mayor Art Phillips by Doug Bennett of Doug and the Slugs fame. One of the most famous covers of the mid-1970s was a Rand Holmes illustration of Mick Jagger riding on top of a huge inflatable pink penis. The book includes another memorable Holmes cover illustration of a giant whale near the water’s surface with a harpoon-bearing ship nearby. “There are probably 10 or 15 great RandHolmes covers from 1975 alone,” Sarti said. “He was just at the top of his game. We couldn’t put them all in the book.” Sarti’s father, Bob, wrote for the Straight in the late 1960s, and Sarti visited the paper’s Gastown office as a boy. He wistfully recalled it as “this weird, mad, mystical place with all manners of counterculture things going on”. The sign on the door said “Sorry We’re Open”. “In the early days there was so much heat from the cops and a lot of trumpedup charges that people did not want to put their real names on articles,” Sarti revealed. In the early 1980s, the Georgia Straight morphed into an entertainment paper, which helped it survive the deepest economic slowdown since the Great Depression. In that era, there were cover photos of David Suzuki, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, and k.d. lang. “I haven’t had much chart success in terms of radio play,” lang acknowledged to
Doug Sarti and Dan McLeod spent oodles of time reviewing the Straight ’s history. Travis Lupick photo.
the Straight at the time, “but I’ve been able to rub shoulders with those I most admire.” The brains behind the Clash, Joe Strummer, appeared on the cover in 1984, the same year a new craze called break dancing received cover treatment. “The book wouldn’t have been possible without the ’s production and Straight’s art departments, who did all the hard work of scanning and cleaning up the cover images,” Sarti emphasized. ’s first serious The Straight’s coverage of Nardwuar the Human Serviette came in 1990. But the beloved Nards didn’t make the cover until 2004 in an extraordinar y Rebecca Blissett photograph replicating the Subhumans’ Incorrect Thoughts album. Nardwuar is still going strong—and for proof of that, check out Mike Usinger’s article on page 113. The city’s first Stanley Cup riot was featured on a 1994 cover simply headlined “Stupidville”. Vancouver’s second Stanley Cup riot, in 2011, also received cover treatment with a young man in a white Canucks jersey standing on the hood of a car engulfed in f lames. The James Maclennan photo was punctuated with a cover line asking “Is this normal?” That wasn’t the only time fire appeared on the cover. In 1994 Little Sister’s bookstore’s then manager, Janine Fuller, appeared as Joan of Arc being burned at the stake. This highlighted her homophobic persecution at the hands of Canadian customs officers. The next year, race moved into the spotlight with Stanley Q. Woodvine’s cover illustration of the human brain. It accompanied a Taras Grescoe article entitled “White Peril”. Sarti and McLeod described Grescoe’s piece as “a subversively tongue-in-cheek treatise on race and crime statistics, showing that anyone—even those of European descent—can be painted as a villain”. “There’s always been the idea of social justice in the Straight,” Sarti said. “Even in the days when we were just concentrating on entertainment in the ’80s—movie, music stuff—the socialjustice aspect was always in the background.” So was McLeod’s long-standing concern for environmental issues. A 1996 cover illustration by Rod Filbrandt, headlined
“Temperature’s Rising”, underscored an article by Crawford Kilian warning of the looming local impacts of climate change. The paper’s first coverage of the perils of rising greenhouse-gas emissions dates back to the late 1960s. One of the book’s more recent covers features a joyful Melanie Mark, then the newly minted NDP MLA for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, with her two adorable daughters all dressed in First Nations attire. It wasn’t her first appearance in the paper. More than a decade earlier, Mark’s efforts to change how Vancouver police interacted with Indigenous people received extensive coverage. The Georgia Straight: A 50th Anniversary Celebration also includes essays by two former employees, Bob Geldof and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson. In addition, there are contributions by two prominent Vancouver residents who’ve graced the cover: former mayor and ex-premier Mike Harcourt and musician and writer Bif Naked. Geldof’s introduction describes Vancouver as a “sleepy sort of town” when he arrived in the mid-1970s and found work at the Straight as a music writer. He also points out that it “was the first paper in all of Canada to trumpet the coming environmental battles” and, “outlandishly for the time, raged for rights: gay, women’s, First Nations and on and on”. “Me, I loved it,” Geldof writes. “I did my music stuff. I argued (I think successfully) that music, and not the dull doings of some local council, would be the vehicle for social change, that you could transliterate the work of the rock greats into a relevance for Us, not Them and Now not Then. I tried. He [McLeod] let me. Fun! Man, I had fun.” Harcourt points out in his essay that he was still in law school when the first issue of the Straight rolled off the presses in 1967. He draws links between the successful fight against a freeway through Chinatown and Gastown and the rise of long-term sustainable land-use and transportation planning in the region. The early issues of the Straight included critical coverage of the freeway proposal, offering a platform for “alternative voices who opposed the destruction of cherished neighbourhoods”.
“It’s been great to live in a city like Vancouver, which spawned Greenpeace, David Suzuki, community law offices, and the livable city and region plans,” Harcourt writes. “Plus, Vancouver is the only major city in North America without a freeway gouged through it.” Watson describes the Straight as his “journalism school”, noting that he has contributed to the paper off and on for 44 years. “I was 19 in 1970, and my grammar was so poor in those early days that music writer Bob Geldof and managing editor Bob Mercer eventually presented me with a book called Learning Effective English Grammar, which today holds a place of honour on my bookshelf,” Watson writes. The celebrity sea dog, as he was called on the cover of the Straight in 2011, spent his early years covering crime, movies, and food and drink. Watson was also an ace environmental reporter and spent a great deal of time as the paper’s foreign correspondent. Th is included covering the American Indian Movement insurrection in 1973 at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. He and fellow environmental activist David Garrick even became citizens of the “independent” Oglala Nation that was created at the time. Watson learned a great deal observing the courage of AIM leader Russell Means in the face of bullets being fired by the FBI, U.S. marshals, and American soldiers. “In fact, I would venture to say that the Georgia Straight was the anvil upon which was forged the modern environmental movement,” Watson declares in his essay. “The paper didn’t just report the news; it created the news. It didn’t just report on art and culture; it created and inspired art and moulded culture.” Bif Naked, of course, is part of the city’s musical culture, which has been chronicled in detail within the pages of the Straight. Her essay reflects on how wonderful Vancouver was for her at the turn of the 21st century. At the time, she was touring, releasing music and videos, appearing in movies, and headlining local venues like the Commodore Ballroom. When she appeared on the cover for a 2001 Usinger feature, Naked was wearing her favourite SNFU T-shirt. “I was elated; it was better than being on the Show Tonight Show,” she writes. “I could have died happy.” The book features cover images of many other Vancouver cultural figures who’ve left a lasting mark, including Douglas Coupland, Shane Koyczan, and Joy Kogawa. Sarti said that in reviewing all the back issues, he was astonished to see that so many high-profile politicians, A-list Hollywood celebrities, and top musicians showed up in the paper. Pierre Trudeau, for example, appeared on the cover in 1968. There are also amusing cover images in the book of Stephen Harper, Gordon Campbell, and George W. Bush— the last under the title “Moron of the Year”. “Almost everyone of note in Canadian culture has been either interviewed or referenced in the last 50 years,” Sarti said, “and a lot in American and world culture, too.” A book launch for The Georgia Straight: A 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held at Book Warehouse Main Street (4118 Main Street) on Wednesday (September 27). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7.
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18 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
BOOKS
Authors look back at life-changing books > B Y B RIA N LYNC H
T
he literary juggernaut known as the annual Word Vancouver festival is rolling through its six-day program right now at venues around town. And, as ever, it all culminates on Sunday (September 24) with a massive celebration of writing and reading in and around the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, offering dozens of free events from readings to panel discussions and workshops. To mark the occasion, we asked a group of the acclaimed authors on the bill to describe their most memorable reading experiences. Which books shaped the way they see the world, and taught them what the written word can do? Here are their responses. For details about their festival appearances and the complete list of happenings, go to wordvancouver.ca/. CARLEIGH BAKER (Bad Endings) “I’m happy to share the work that took my understanding of the power of storytelling to a new level: Thomas King’s Massey Lectures, The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative. King breaks down the impact of storytelling on history, religion, and politics, but he also shares some humorous and valuable insights on common issues for Indigenous writers. In ‘You’re Not the Indian I Had in Mind’, King talks about not appearing ‘Native enough’ for non-Indigenous audiences early on in his career, and how a fringed suede jacket and beaded choker helped him to achieve an image that satisfied his critics. As an urban Métis who was raised outside her culture, this really resonated with me, and allowed me to laugh about my own insecurities. In The Truth About Stories, and I dare say everything King writes, he entertains and educates. His ability to confront hard truths with honesty and humour informs my storytelling to this day.”
I’m still busy finding buried treasure in Vancouver history.” COLLINS (Neil the Horse) “Carl Barks did not merely change my life. He had a large hand in creating it. He was the cartoonist who elevated Donald Duck to a classic Everyman, in stories of timeless buffoonery. I was a Barks fan before I could even read, in the early 1950s. My mom had discovered him, and read every new issue to us kids, as we all collapsed in laughter. His Donald was filled with vainglorious ambitions, and his inevitable failures were spectacular slapstick calamities. Our hearts wept for hapless Donald, even as we guffawed. He would rise again, but never succeed. Barks’s humour used wild exaggeration and gobsmacking absurdity. And he also spun longer tales, of travel and adventure, which opened my eyes to the world’s marvels. By absorbing his work I learned that comics can be great comedy, and literature, and art. He is now said to be the most widely published author on the planet, in almost every country and language. He has never been out of print since 1942. I’m fond of Shakespeare, AusClockwise from left: Writers on the huge program of this year’s Word Vancouver festival include Carleigh Baker, Aaron ten, Twain, Munro, and their peers. Chapman (Rebecca Blissett photo), Rodney DeCroo (Rebecca Blissett photo), and Katherine Collins (Alana Paterson photo). But Barks looms larger than anyone AARON CHAPMAN (The Last Gang ea, eventually returning to Canada. agination of the reader to go visit such for me, even taller than the gigantic in Town) “Lasseter’s Last Ride by Ion But I grew up in the long shadow of places. There’s an epilogue to it all. statue of Cornelius Coot that looms Llewellyn Idriess. It’s a true story his exploits, even though by the time Sixty-five years after my father handed over Duckburg.” about an Australian explorer in the I was born, he was living the quiet life the book to that young friend and then early 1930s who claimed to have found of a Kerrisdale lawyer. But the fact lost touch with him, the man tracked RODNEY DECROO (Next Door to a huge gold deposit in the Australian that he ran off to chase the story gave my father down. They’d last seen each the Butcher Shop) “I was 11 years outback. But after being abandoned me a passion for travel, and an inter- other when they were boys, and they old when I found a mouldy paperand lost on expedition, his remains est in history and adventure at the met again as old, old men to find out back copy of Dee Brown’s Bury My along with a diary were discovered. same time. It’s a rollicking adventure where their lives had taken them, and, Heart at Wounded Knee in a box of My late father read the book in Na- story—there are other modern books surprisingly, he returned the copy of discarded books at my school. I asked naimo and, giving the book to a friend, I admire as a writer, but the thought Lasseter’s Last Ride to him. The book my teacher if I could read it. He said surprisingly ran away from home, that a story could inspire somebody to now sits on my bookshelf as not only I could but that I was probably too stowing away on a ship bound for Aus- run to the ends of the earth inculcated a family heirloom, but also a sort of young to understand it. The book was tralia where he figured he would find in me the power books can have. It amulet about the power a good story like a hand grenade tossed into my the Lasseter gold. He ended up joining seems like a marvellous bar to set for can have. That Lasseter gold mine has preadolescent mind. Brown’s account the Australian army when World War oneself as a writer—to write a story still never been found. Maybe I should of America’s genocidal campaign II broke out and fought in New Guin- so engaging it might stoke the im- take a run at it myself one day—but see next page KATHERINE
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SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 19
Authors
Compass has had a profound impact on my life because it informs how I approach my work. Plus, it has armoured bears. Who can resist that?”
from previous page
against American Indians blew apart the trailer-park, militaristic American patriotism I’d been force-fed. That patriotism was a weird and contradictory cocktail of romantic stories about George Custer’s Last Stand versus the evil Indians, Lincoln’s heroic efforts to free the slaves, and the legend of America as the champion of freedom and democracy throughout the world. I was a fervent little patriot and rabidly consumed books like Grosset & Dunlap’s We Were There patriotic historical novels for children. My father had returned from the Vietnam War with severe PTSD and both my parents struggled with alcohol and other drugs. So there was lots of chaos and violence in our home and I clung to these myths because they made me part of something allegedly great and good. When I asked adults about Brown’s book they either dismissed it as bullshit or anti-American propaganda. A few years later I’d skipped school so I could go to a Pittsburgh Pirates home opener at Three Rivers Stadium. I was sitting next to a man who told me he was a Pirates fan because they’d fielded the first all-black starting lineup in Major League Baseball. He also told me that he was part black and part American Indian. Suddenly, I was telling him about Brown’s book and how horribly we’d treated Indians and that it was bad to be an American. He listened quietly, then asked if I was an American. I said yes, of course. Then he said—and I’ll never forget it—‘Then you can be any kind of American you want, so be the kind you want to believe in.’ ” LEANNE DUNIC (To Love the Coming
End) “The author that comes to mind is Anaïs Nin, whose work shaped me as a person and as a writer. I loved her fearlessness in who she was, what she did, who she did. She challenged and changed my perspective on life and love and inspired courage in my
JEN SOOKFONG LEE (The Con-
joined) “I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember, and many books have changed my life. (It could be argued that it’s mostly books that change my life and people rarely do.) The book that totally changed how I saw voice and language was Stilt Jack by John Thompson, which my favourite teacher at UBC, Keith Maillard, told me to read. Thompson’s poems are characterized by emotional disconnect, hard winters, and the edges of loneliness. His voice was uniquely his. No one else has ever written like John Thompson and no one else ever will. We can try to accomplish all sorts of social or literary goals with our writing, but really, if you don’t know and inhabit your own voice, then it doesn’t even matter. Stilt Jack forced me to confront who I am in words and that has been the most valuable lesson of my writing life.”
Sheena Kamal (left) says The Golden Compass has always kept her aligned; Jen Sookfong Lee discovered an inspiring voice in the poems of John Thompson.
artistic practice. She and I also had bizarre similarities—for instance, we both wrote stories in which a character puts a finger inside of a chicken, and not through its beak.” (The Party) “When I was eight years old, I was a flower girl in my aunt’s wedding. As a thank-you gift, she gave me a copy of James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. It was so fantastical, but somehow so real. I vividly recall the scene where James crawls into the peach for the first time. I could feel the peach flesh on my knees, I could taste the juice as he licked the walls of his fruity tunnel. Even though the characters were a grasshopper, a centipede, and an earthworm, they came to life. There were a few pencil illustrations that were just enough to set my imagination running wild. I still
ROBYN
HARDING
have that copy of the book. And while I’ve never written anything in that fantasy vein, Roald Dahl inspired me with the magic of his words.” SHEENA KAMAL (The Lost Ones)
“I have many favourites, but one book that particularly resonates with me is The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. It’s a brilliant book by any measure, but what stays with me is the main character’s ability to operate a truth-telling compass. She holds a question in her mind without thinking directly about it, and the compass provides the answer. In many ways, this reflects how I write. I hold something in my mind, some idea or the other, and my intuition guides me. So when I’m under deadline, trying too hard to make the words flow, I think of this compass trick. In this way, The Golden
LORI MCNULTY (Life on Mars) “A
friend gave me The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy just as I was beginning my studies at McGill University. It languished, unread, amid a growing collection of breathtaking books: A Fine Balance, Things Fall Apart, Midnight’s Children. Then one morning I cracked the cover. Set in Kerala, India, during the late 1960s, the book explores the devastating results of a love affair between Ammu, from an upper-class, Syrian Christian family, and Velutha, an Untouchable carpenter and communist. There was the heartbreaking daring of Roy’s language. ‘And the air was full of Thoughts and Things to Say. But at times like these, only the Small Things are ever said. Big Things lurk unsaid inside.’ There was the haunting undercurrent of postcolonial history. Roy’s indictment of India’s caste system, of oppressive rule and religion, is set against small, exquisitely
drawn moments of love, indignity, and suffering. ‘Little events, ordinary things, smashed and reconstituted. Suddenly, they become the bleached bones of a story.’ I knew then that literature was capable of shape-shifting, that it could grow fangs and feet. Since reading the book, I have twice visited India. And when I look into the eyes of the locals—a Garhwali girl climbing a hill path, a vegetable vender selling eggplants and potatoes in Ahmedabad—I think of all that is forbidden and beautiful in the world. Great books make you want to write. And so I began to.” AHMAD DANNY RAMADAN (The
Clothesline Swing) “Growing up in Damascus, Syria, I had very limited access to any books written outside of the country. Many books were censored or banned by the Syrian regime, especially books that brought understanding and connections to other cultures. I had to wait until I lived in Egypt in the early 2000s to get to read the book that would teach me how to be a better author. In Cairo in my early 20s, I stumbled upon a novel called One Hundred Years of Solitude by an author I didn’t even recognize at the time called Gabriel García Márquez. My friends there, a group of geeks and nerds who also enjoyed reading, found the matter laughable, as Márquez was quite the phenomenon by then. I ignored their laughs, and bought the book. Slipping into the magical world of Márquez truly consumed me. I was taken by the storytelling, the magical realism and his ability to connect lives and ancestors with stories that echo through time and place. By the time I finished the book, I felt like there was a light that was lit within me, enhancing my own writing, and teaching me how to produce a glimpse of that magic myself. Now, whenever I feel a writer’s block coming upon me, I find myself pulling any of Márquez’s novels and reading for a bit; I either overcome my writer’s block, or at least I feel the warmth of my favourite author again.” -
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BEST OF VANCOUVER
Chief Robert Joseph hopes to bring Vancouverites together by leading a walk for reconciliation. Reconciliation Canada photo.
Joseph leads by example > BY C HA R LIE SMI TH
A
nyone who meets Robert Joseph would have trouble imagining him as the town drunk. Sitting in his North Vancouver office on top of the Staples store near the corner of Capilano Road and Marine Drive, the hereditary chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation is everything—and more—that you would expect to encounter in a respected Indigenous elder. He’s charming, wise, and smiles easily, yet he also resonates the toughness that one would expect from years of working in a resource industry. Along with a riotous sense of humour, he has a keen intellect and sharp sense of recall. It’s these qualities that have helped make Joseph a national leader in bringing about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. As ambassador for the nonprofit group that he cofounded, Reconciliation Canada, he and his daughter Karen spearheaded Vancouver’s 2013 Walk for Reconciliation, which brought approximately 70,000 people out on a rainy September day to demonstrate their commitment to form a better relationship between Canada’s First Nations and descendants of settlers. “It was tremendously successful and beneficial to the movement of reconciliation,” Joseph told the Georgia Straight in an interview at his office. “We always thought a reconciliation walk is powerfully symbolic.” Now Reconciliation Canada, the City of Vancouver, and Vancouver’s three host First Nations—the Musqueam, Squamish, and TsleilWaututh—are in the final stages of planning another Walk for Reconciliation. Beginning outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday (September 24), participants will continue across the Georgia Viaduct and end at Strathcona Park. That will be the site of a “Reconciliation Expo”, which will include community booths, cultural activities, artisans, and children’s entertainment. There will also be musical and dance performances from Susan Aglukark, N’we Jinan, the Eagle Song Dancers, and others. “Reconciliation has provided us with an opportunity to reflect on who we are collectively and to reflect on what has gone wrong—and to dream together,” Joseph said. “To envision a future together that’s inclusive, more equal, more just, and that every child born in this country has the same potential to strive for something.” The first Walk for Reconciliation coincided with the visit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to Vancouver. The commission came about as a result of an agreement between the Assembly of First Nations, churches, and the federal government to settle outstanding legal claims arising from the treatment of Indigenous children in church-run residential schools. More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were
placed in these schools, which were part of a national policy to assimilate Indigenous people. Kids who went to these schools were often abused and forbidden to speak their language or engage in cultural activities. Joseph was one of those students. He was sent to St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay for 11 years. He recalled being abused by both a male and a female staff member at the school on Cormorant Island, just off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. “People who were supposed to take care of us would beat us at every provocation, drag us around by the ear, strap us with every conceivable instrument they had on hand,” Joseph said. “And they just minimized and denigrated our sense of well-being. They were really racist and cruel.” It was at that school in Alert Bay that he had his first drink. According to Joseph, it felt so good. In that moment, he felt brave. He knew who he was. “Suddenly, I have all these characteristics that I can’t exercise in normal school life,” he said. He went on a bender on graduation day and returned to the school two or three days later. The principal asked if he could speak to Joseph. Then this man who had tormented him for years said: “For whatever it’s worth, I think you’re going to make it.” Joseph couldn’t believe it. This was the same guy who had bent him over a chair in front of the whole school and whacked his bare ass with a leather strap. “A couple of times he locked me up in the quarantine room, where nobody was allowed to talk to me,” Joseph said. “He just fed me bread and water for two or three days.” As a young adult, Joseph would find jobs, sometimes really good ones, but then squander these opportunities away by drinking alcohol. He was lonely in residential school, so he vowed to get married. After doing that, he and his wife had five children. He had a nice house in Campbell River in the mid-1970s, and to the outside world he was doing well. But inside, Joseph said, he was suffering. And in 1977, his wife took off with the kids for a while, leaving him alone. “I drank days on days on days and didn’t even go to work anymore,” he revealed. He became the town drunk until one day a friend told him that he was better than that. This friend took him aboard his fishing boat so he could sober up. “I got there and I passed out,” Joseph recalled. “I woke up the next morning and the first thing that hits you is the smell of booze coming out of your pores, right? Then it floods over you: the despair and darkness, the shame and the hurt and everything.” But something happened this time that had never occurred before. As he was on his knees on the deck of the boat, he looked around and could feel the energy and the colours of the ocean, the Vancouver Island forest off in the distance, and the sky above.
“The foliage was so green, so powerful, it had lightning bolts going through it,” Joseph said. He described this event as like being in a theatre observing the universe. “Then I heard this voice and it said, ‘In spite of what you’ve done to yourself, I love you and you’re part of all this.’ And then suddenly I came back,” he revealed. “I’m on a deck. I’m still as broken. That was it.” This epiphany led Joseph to swear off alcohol and he resolved to live his life responsibly, giving others their sense of worth, value, purpose, and respect. “Everybody matters. Everybody belongs,” he said. “We have to find a way to get all these everybodies to start talking to each other so we can quit hurting each other. That’s what’s kind of driven me to this work.” He acknowledged that even when he was “broken”, he still tried to find ways to remedy injustices for Aboriginal people. But once he really got his bearings, he took these efforts to new levels. As the long-time head of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Joseph played a leadership role in the discussions that led to the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. He emphasized the importance of recognizing that Indigenous people had well-organized societies before European colonization. “We had our forms of government,” he noted. “We exercised our spirituality in unique and different ways but profound nonetheless. We’re equal to any other form, faith, or worship that has come to these lands since.” He was sitting in the gallery in Parliament in 2008 when the then– prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, delivered an apology on the floor of the House of Commons to former residential-school students. “I heard the words, ‘I’m sorry.’ I just cried,” Joseph said. “I didn’t have to hear anymore. I had waited all my life for somebody to say ‘I’m sorry.’ ” He wasn’t concerned that it came from Harper, who was disliked by most Indigenous people. But Joseph also declared that reconciliation is not something that should be left in the hands of politicians. “Reconciliation is when we get together and we’re able to look each other in the eyeball and have real discussions about the differences between us, respectfully, and to figure out ways to move beyond some of those barriers. “I’m a realist, too,” Joseph continued. “I mean, perfection never happens. It’s just elusive. They crucified the last guy who was perfect, right? So reconciliation is something that comes out of deep discussions and mutual respect. It’s not predesigned and it’s not for one side or the other. It’s for the best interest of the larger collective humanity.” The Walk for Reconciliation begins at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday (September 24) outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. From there, it will proceed to Strathcona Park for free entertainment and exhibits from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Drop in at Vancouver, or do some yoga & climb at the North Shore. We’re always happy to see you! Cut out and bring this thank-you ad in for a free session with us.
hiveclimbing.com SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 23
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GREEN LIVING
Startup fuels ships with clean energy Corvus Energy is tackling pollution by transforming marine-diesel vessels into hybrid or electric boats already been regulated out of on-theroad vehicles. ith climate change “Obviously,” he continues, “it’s already causing wide- terrible for the environment to have spread famine and these enormous vessels creating extreme weather, and those kinds of waste products, which on course to submerge whole coun- can be very harmful. With our battries, it’s become more important teries, it’s possible to get big ships than ever to put the brakes on rising and heavy equipment down to the temperatures. How? By keeping fos- equivalent of a car’s emissions.” sil fuels in the ground. Corvus is able to replace marineBusinesses like Tesla and Volvo diesel and heavy-fuel-oil engines have recently by transforming been celebrated the vessel into Green Living for their efforts either a hybrid Presented by to build fleets or all-electric of vehicles that ship. With an run on electrioperating model city—a move similar to that that will prevent large amounts of of the Tesla, the batteries drive the carbon dioxide and other pollutants boat, deal with any onboard energy from entering the atmosphere. But usage, and are then recharged at the while car manufacturers are slowly port. Corvus’s technology can mean catching on to the shift to renewable that there are no generators onboard fuels, Vancouver company Corvus and no emissions, and the ships Energy is thinking bigger. make considerably less noise. Corvus is a large-scale producer That might seem like an obvious of batteries that can be used in huge solution to the problem of maritime ships, port equipment, and off-shore pollution—so why has it taken a oil rigs. Working on making its company so long to get to this point? lithium-ion cells as efficient as pos“In the early trials, the battery sible, the startup has already made a technology just couldn’t stand up to difference by transforming the toxic the requirements on ships,” Puchalemissions pumped out by the mari- ski says. “People tried with lead-acid, time industry. but you needed so much of the ma“The worst fuel used by big ocean- terials that it wasn’t practical from a going vessels is called ‘heavy fuel weight or volume perspective. There oil’,” says Sean Puchalski, VP of stra- were other types of batteries in the tegic marketing and accounts at Cor- running, but they had some practical vus, in a phone interview. “If ships constraints, like the operating temare operating in an area where there’s perature. When people realized that not a limit on emissions, they produce lithium-ion batteries were the best, a ton of carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, they were just in cellphones and lapnitrous oxide, and particulate matter. tops. It really wasn’t until the early Basically, it’s all the bad stuff that’s 2000s when people started making > BY KATE W IL SON
Offers valid until October 2, 2017. See toyota.ca for complete details. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between Toyota prices, rates and/or other information contained on www.getyourtoyota.ca and that contained on toyota.ca, the latter shall prevail. Errors and omissions excepted. Lease example: 2018 Prius c Automatic KDTA3P-A, MSRP is $23,830 and includes $1,840 freight/PDI and fees leased at 2.99% over 60 months with $2,250 down payment, equals 260 weekly payments of $58 with a total lease obligation of $17,307. Applicable taxes are extra. Lease 60 mos. based on 100,000 km, excess km charge is $.07. Weekly lease offers available through Toyota Financial Services (TFS) on approved credit to qualified retail lease customers of new and demonstrator Toyota vehicles. Down payment and first weekly payment due at lease inception and next weekly payment due approximately 7 days later and weekly thereafter throughout the term. * Toyota Safety Sense™ (TSS) - Drivers should always be responsible for their own safe driving. Please always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. Depending on the conditions of roads, vehicles, weather, etc., the TSS systems may not work as intended. Please see toyota.ca, your local Toyota Dealer or Owner’s Manual for details. Visit your Toyota Dealer or www.getyourtoyota.ca for more details. Some conditions apply; offers are time limited and may change without notice. Dealer may lease/sell for less. Each specific model may not be available at each dealer at all times; factory order or dealer trade may be necessary.
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Powerful enough to propel ocean-going ships, locally produced lithium-ion batteries also help cut greenhouse gas emissions.
large lithium-ion cells, and that’s when our company founders started the business.” Corvus’s advantage lies in its ability to ruggedize the batteries to withstand corrosion from the sea’s salty air—and its ability to reach burgeoning markets. Recognizing that higher fuel prices and taxes mean that the price at the pump in Europe can be double that in North America, Corvus installs a lot of its batteries in ships based in the north of that continent. On top of that, Scandinavian governments have
high-value programs that offer ferry f leets considerable grants for ships that run on clean energy, offering a high return on investment in the company’s product. While Europe is touting itself as an ecological hub, however, Vancouver is also a global front-runner in going green. Fast becoming a nucleus for clean-tech companies, the city is cementing Canada’s image as a forward-thinking and environmentally conscious nation—something that Puchalski is particularly proud of.
Safety Sensible
“Green startups are one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country,” he says. “It’s a very exciting place to work, and it’s developing some unique talents. In the Lower Mainland in particular, we have a clean-tech centre of excellence growing. “Some of the ferries we’ve modified have been the equivalent to taking 900 to 1,000 midsized sedans off the roads,” he continues. “We’re excited that Canadian companies are making that kind of impact.” -
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SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 25
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HOUSING
Renters of Vancouver: “We were late on rent” > B Y KATE WIL SON
Renters of Vancouver takes an intimate look at how the city’s residents are dealing with the housing crisis. Tenants choose to remain nameless when sharing their stories.
“I
moved to Vancouver from Prince George with my partner back in October. We made the decision because we thought we would be able to get better medical care here. Boy, were we wrong. “My partner is a trans female. We not only thought the city would be safer for her, but it’s also the home of the beauty school where she wanted to study. I have three children, aged seven, nine, and 13. The eldest is autistic, and was not receiving the right support in Prince George. Vancouver has many more resources to help with autism, and that was a big reason for the move. I’d been planning it for at least three years—but if I knew then what I do now, there’s no way I would have come. “We moved here in October, and stayed briefly in a hostel on West Pender. We were there for about a month before we found a place, close to the PNE. The agreement was a one-year lease, but we were there for only four months before the landlord went crazy. “My middle child got really sick in December, and ended up having her appendix removed. During the time that she was in the hospital, she came down with a really bad respiratory virus. She has asthma, which I thought was controlled well enough, but the virus triggered a very severe asthma attack. It was really frightening. She was hooked up to facemasks and machines so she could breathe, because her oxygen levels were so low. We almost lost her. “During that time, the other two kids had to go to school, and so did my partner. We would do shifts so we could get the children to class, and
This couple is living in a hotel beause there’s such a shortage of affordable apartments in Vancouver. Kate Wilson photo.
I would come home early so they would all receive the proper care. We were going back and forth from the Children’s Hospital to our place so regularly that it cost upwards of $150 a day to travel. “That meant that, in the month of December, we lost around $500 of our income. I tried to apply for help with that, but I was denied because I was a local. There are a lot of programs for medical transportation in Vancouver, but they’re typically for people who live out of the city and need to be taken in. “As a result, we were late on rent. Our landlord knew what was going on. We paid most of it—we were only about $300 behind on our $1900 payment. She gave us a certain amount of time to come up with the money—but before we reached that date, she started harassing me about a hydro bill. I told her that it wouldn’t be a problem paying, but due to the fact that we lost
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rights. It came to a head when we saw the landlady sitting outside the house in her car with her partner, waiting for us to leave so she could change the locks. We called the police, and we were actually on the phone with them when the landlady tried to barge in. The kids were crying, because they felt like they weren’t allowed to be in their own place. “We then decided to send our children back to Prince George to live with their father until we could sort the situation out. None of them were sleeping at night. It wasn’t fair to them to struggle through so much uncertainty, especially with an autistic child, because when their routine is disrupted, it sends their whole world into turmoil. “We left the house, and moved into a motel on Kingsway. We then began looking for a new home. We found that landlords demanded
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a lot of money when our child was sick, it would take me two or three weeks to get it paid. She claimed she was fine with that. But two days later, she started bringing it up again. “My partner ended up taking over the conversations, because the stress of dealing with the situation was setting off my anxiety, and I ended up in the hospital. I got really sick. After a couple of days of that, she accused us of having an illegal grow-op in the basement—which was ridiculous, not least because I have three children—and threatened that she’d send the police round, who would remove us. It spiralled completely out of control. She ended up saying we owed her $1700, even though that was nowhere near true. “I was on the phone with the Residential Tenancy Branch the whole time to find out where we stood, and what we could do to protect our
all kinds of information, like credit and even criminal record checks. That’s crazy. I don’t understand why I should have to prove that I’m a good person when they don’t—I lost my kids because the old landlady went back on her word. Together my partner and I have enough for a damage deposit and a few months’ worth of rent up-front, and I’ve told landlords that. Even then, it isn’t enough. I’ve sent more than 500 emails in the last six months, and that’s not including texts, calls, or applications on realtors’ websites. It’s very disheartening to have found nothing. “We’ve since moved to two more hotels. Right now, with my partner being trans, I have to escort her to the washroom to make sure that she doesn’t suffer any abuse. Even though we’re in a private room, there are bedbugs and cockroaches. My partner has had to drop out of school because of the stress. “I have no idea what we’re going to do next. We’ve looked at B.C. Housing, but the wait list is three to five years. People can get temporary housing at shelters, but we can’t do that. With my partner being trans, she would have to go to an emergency shelter for trans people. I wouldn’t be able to go with her. If I were to go to a different shelter, my partner couldn’t come with me. We are each other’s security blanket. What can we do? “I honestly don’t want to be here anymore. The only reason I’m staying is because I want to do everything that I can to rebuild a life and get my kids back. My partner has hope that we can do it here. I’m not so sure anymore. If we had the opportunity to pack up and leave, I’d do it. “We’ve had to give up everything. Our whole lives are sitting in a storage unit in Port Coquitlam, and we have nothing to show for it. Vancouver is a beautiful city, but it’s not for those who are trying to make it, and have a family. It’s just for the rich.” -
W
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arvest season begins with the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance into Libra at 1:02 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday. Indigenous cultures and many spiritual practices commonly regard the four focal points of the year (the solstices and equinoxes) as pivotal points regarding the inner spiritual journey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Equal nightâ&#x20AC;? (the meaning of the Latin equinox) begins a more conscious reflection on the edibles and discards of the harvest to date. Certainly, there is a lot to process. Weighing the past against the present, the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exit out of Virgo and into Libra (the evaluation archetype) now sets a higher premium on creating a better equilibrium. Personal planets Venus, Mercury, and Mars in Virgo continue their focus on the necessary improvements and upgrades. The autumn equinox is accompanied by Mercury/Pluto (trine aspect). This task-driven combination is useful for locking onto the objective with greater precision. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an efficient combination for research and detective work, for devising and implementing a more workable strategy. Use this transit to apply for a job or funding, plead your case, negotiate, sell, or tackle the work. Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Venus/Juno benefits contracts and commitments. Whether business-, pleasure-, heart-, or lustdriven, Thursday to Saturday are your best days to win them over. Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mars/Neptune can also be good for testing your swagger; on the flip side, though, know you can buy into an illusion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to lose sight or momentum. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for creative conjuring, catching up on rest, sleep, romance, or spiritual replenishment. Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mercury/Saturn can make for a reluctant, slow, or late start. However, Jupiter/Uranus is on a kick-it-up, reaching an opportune breakthrough late Wednesday.
ARIES
TAURUS
Busy? You bet. Venus, freshly into Virgo, supplies extra motivation and/or need but also helps you make better use of resources and efforts. Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s autumn equinox/the Libra sun puts a key relationship or money matter to the forefront. Thursday to Saturday, buy, sell, sign it, or work on it. Sunday onward, some things go as expected; some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.
#GeorgiaStraight 28 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
April 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 21
Mercury, Mars, and now Venus in the sign of Virgo keep the action going strong. They also pump you full of energy, motivation, and can-do. Friday/Saturday, make your power play. Ideas, words, and timing; Mercury/Pluto loans you added sway and charisma. Sunday, you can be seducedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;by yourself or by advertising. Monday/Tuesday, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stuff to get through. Wednesday/Thursday, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life on the go.
GEMINI
May 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;June 21
Home is a busy place. Looking back and thinking forward, your mind stays extra busy too. Venus in Virgo and the sun in Libra help you get a better handle on it, them, and yourself. Thursday to Saturday, apply yourself. Take it on; it comes together well. Wednesday/Thursday, Jupiter/ Uranus puts you in the know or on the go, perhaps suddenly so.
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March 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;April 20
CANCER
June 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;July 22
LEO
July 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;August 23
Get it cleaned up; reduce and reuse where possible. Aim to put your time, your money, and your heart to better use. Even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stick to the budget or the plan, you are further ahead to having either one. Thursday to Saturday, get it said and work it out. Take it on; make it happen. Sunday onward, one thing sets up the next.
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
August 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;September 23
The sun ditches Virgo for Libra on Friday, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the gain with Mercury, Mars, and now Venus, fresh at it in your sign. The combo loans you an upgrade of â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am, I will, and I deserve.â&#x20AC;? Through Saturday, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the ability to express, engage, think it through, retain information, and make smarter choices. Sunday through Wednesday, stay open-ended and open-minded. September 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;October 23
If you can, steal away extra time to yourself to reflect, study, or get it sorted out. Less distraction and more â&#x20AC;&#x153;me timeâ&#x20AC;? or away time can only do you good. Do not ignore a hint, an impression, or your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signals. Get it repaired before itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bigger issue. Building to Wednesday/Thursday, Jupiter/Uranus sets you onto full steam ahead, perhaps unexpectedly so. October 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;November 22
You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time to sit around! Mercury, Mars, and Venus will continue to keep you busy regarding work, the to-do list, and the people interface. Put your creative smarts into action Thursday to Sunday. Your power of persuasion is at its peak. Monday/Tuesday, shift tracks; move on. Wednesday/Thursday, Jupiter/ Uranus kicks it up a great big notch. November 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;December 21
Thursday to Saturday sets you onto a productive track. Sunday onward moves you forward too, but with added push and less control. What is no longer useful or purposeful is on its way out. The process allows for an important missing blank to be filled or a key to be found. Building to Wednesday/Thursday, Jupiter/ Uranus takes you/it to a whole new level, perhaps unexpectedly so. December 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;January 20
Some call it intuition; some call it common sense; some call it smarts. Label it any which way: you have it in spades. Through Saturday, your ability to sway is excellent. Aim to get it said, signed, and done. Sunday onward gets you going on something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next. Wednesday/Thursday, take a risk; you could strike it hot. January 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;February 18
The stars pile on extra work or expense. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no way to escape or avoid facing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary, but results spell improvement. Thursday to Saturday are productive. Get at it and talk it out; sign it or buy it. Chill out Sunday. Monday/Tuesday, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stuff to work through. Wednesday/Thursday puts you in the know or gain. Timing is everything. February 18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;March 20
Whether work-related, social, or personal, relationships keep your days and/or your mind on the fast spin. Through Saturday, communication tracks are enhanced. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a better ability to make an important inroad with a key someone. Sunday is good for creative pursuits or relaxation. Monday/Tuesday keeps it real. Wednesday/Thursday, take your best shot. Jupiter/Uranus cracks it open. -
Beyond your control, with or without your active pursuit, potentials are progressively revealing themselves. Mercury, Mars, and Venus in Virgo set the reality onto its next track. Wednesday/Thursday gives you a lot more to go on. To the plus, the transits are opportune, corrective, and solution-generating. Keep looking; keep trying; keep working on it. Talk Book a reading or sign up for Roseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newsletter at www.rosemarcus.com/. it out; ask more questions; feel it out.
LANGUAGE, GLOBALIZATION, AND YOUTH IN THE ASIAN PERIPHERY Sender Dovchin discusses the linguistic diversity of young adults situated on the Asian periphery. Sep 27, 12-1:30 pm, C.K. Choi Building (1855 West Mall, UBC). Info iar.ubc.ca/events/event/language-globalization-and-youth-in-the-asian-periphery/.
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FORUMS 2THIS WEEK WEST COAST SUSTAINABLE CANNABIS FORUM Four experts discuss different aspects of regulations already unfolding in states like California and Oregon, as well as what is happening behind the scenes in B.C. and how growers and retailers in B.C. can take part in this upcoming regulatory regime. Sep 21, 6-9:30 pm, UBC Robson Square (800 Robson). Info www.nichecanada.com/. PRESIDENT’S DREAM COLLOQUIUM: SHARI GRAYDON Shari Graydon discusses women in media and advertising. Sep 21, 5:30-6:30 pm, SFU Burnaby (8888 University Dr., Burnaby). Free admission, info www.sfu.ca/deangrad studies/events/dreamcolloquium/ DreamColloquium-WomenTech/ ShariGraydon.html. DINA KHOURY: IRAQ’S TWENTIETH CENTURY WARS AND THE MAKING OF THE IRAQI PRESENT, 1980-2003. This talk will focus on the impact of the Iran-Iraq and the First Gulf Wars and the UN embargo on the social and political life of Iraqis and their impact on post-2003 Iraq. Sep 21, 7-8 pm, SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings). Free admission, info www.sfu.ca/ccsmsc/. HONG KONG’S FOLK MUSIC AND LOCAL CULTURE: THE ART OF A CANTONESE BLIND SINGER Ethnomusicologist Bell Yung discusses the works of blind singer Dou Wun. Sep 21, 7-9 pm, Fairmont Social Lounge (UBC). Info iar.ubc.ca/events/event/hong-kongsfolk-music-and-local-culture-the-art-of-acantonese-blind-singer/. THE COMMUNITY IS THE MEDICINE Darien Thira will be sharing a strengthbased, culturally rooted approach to serving Indigenous people impacted by colonization. Sep 22, 9 am–4:30 pm, Musqueam Cultural Education Centre and Gallery (4000 Musqueam). Tix $125, info vancouver.eventful.com/events/community-medicine-/E0-001-106545644-6?vs=1.
MEASURING ‘SUCCESS’ IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM Benoît Gomis explores the main factors behind the relative lack of rigorous evaluation of counterterrorism policies and presents potential guidelines for the way forward. Sep 27, 5:30-7 pm, SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings). Admission by donation, info www.eventbrite.ca/e/measuringsuccess-in-the-fight-against-terrorismtickets-36802563458?aff=eac2. VIEW CORRIDORS: PROSPECTS Explore Vancouver’s past and present with professor Ron Kellett, who will then discuss different ways to envision the city’s future. Sep 27, 6:30-8 pm, Alice MacKay Room (Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia). Info www.vpl.ca/.
2THIS WEEK WALK FOR RECONCILIATION March to show your support for survivors and those impacted by the Indian residentialschool system. The walk will end at Strathcona Park, where participants can enjoy Indigenous and multicultural performances and a keynote speech. Sep 24, 9:30 am, Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza (650 Hamilton). Info www.reconciliation canada.ca/walk-for-reconciliation-2017/.
BENEFITS 2THIS WEEK TURNING THE TIDES Highlights include an outdoor beer garden, food, short films, and live music by Ta’Kaiya Blaney, Leora Cashe, and Michael Vincent. Proceeds go to First Nations’ court challenges to pipelines and tankers on B.C.’s coast. Sep 23, 5-9 pm, Café by Tao (120-260 West Esplanade, North Van). Admission by donation, info www.facebook.com/ events/1409112515844373/. #BEERPARKY Fundraiser features beer, burgers, a silent auction, a toonie toss, and a 50/50 draw. Proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson Society British Columbia, and Rock Steady Boxing New Westminster. Sep 23, 6 pm, The St. Regis Bar and Grill (608 Dunsmuir). Tix $30-50, info www. eventbrite.ca/e/beerparky-hosted-by-teaparky-benefitting-mjff-psbc-and-rsb-newwest-tickets-36432815532.
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SALA F.I.R.E. SERIES: CATHERINE INGRAHAM AND SUSANNE SCHINDLER Presentation and discussion focuses on architecture’s relationship to real estate. Sep 25, 6:30 pm, Robson Square (800 Robson). Info sala.ubc.ca/ news-events/event/2017-09-25-fire-seriescatherine-ingraham-susanne-schindler.
MAYOR COTÉ’S CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC Golf tournament raises funds for the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. Sep 25, 10:30 am, Point Grey Golf & Country Club (3350 SW. Marine). Tix $250, info www.rchfoundation.com/ mayorcotegolf.
HOW TO MASTER YOUR PERSONAL BRANDING Azadeh Yaraghi shares her experience and expertise on personal branding and how to master yours. Sep 26, 7-10 pm, Pyatt Hall (843 Seymour). Tix $15-25, info www.talentstalk.ca/. PBLI—CONTAMINATED SITES 2017: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE This course brings together experts from across the private and public sectors to provide you with practical guidance for navigating problem sites and environmental issues. Sep 27, 9 am–5 pm, UBC Robson Square (800 Robson). Tix $770, info www.pbli.com/.
2THIS WEEK
LOCAL EMPLOYER
1. Kitsilano 2. Mount Pleasant 3. West End
WILD KRATTS LIVE Martin and Chris Kratt, stars of the animated kids’ show Wild Kratts, engage the audience in an inspiring quest. Sep 23, 2:30 pm, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer). Tix at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
1. Vancity 2. UBC 3. Lululemon
COMMUNITY CENTRE
1. Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre 181 Roundhouse Mews 2. Hillcrest Community Centre 4575 Clancy Loranger Way 3. Trout Lake Community Centre 3350 Victoria Drive ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LOCAL COMPANY
1. Vancity 2. Telus 3. MEC
COLLEGE/SCHOOL/ UNIVERSITY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
1. SFU 2. Vancouver Community College 3. Langara College
original cocktail and a food-pairing creation in hope of being recognized as Vancouver’s best barchef for 2017. Sep 25, 6-11 pm, Fairmont Hotel (900 W. Georgia). Info www.enjoymadewithlove.com/.
WHISKY 101 Rare drams presents a women-only tasting of Scotch whiskies. Sep 26, 7 pm, Legacy Liquor Store (1633 Manitoba). Tix $35, info www.legacy liquorstore.com/.
ET CETERA 2THIS WEEK CANNABIS INDUSTRY JOB FAIR Engage with industry professionals about job opportunities and the skills that prospective employers in the cannabis sector are looking for. Sep 21, 9 am–9 pm, UBC Robson Square (800 Robson). Info www. nichecanada.com/. METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN 10TH ANNUAL RETAIL JOB FAIR More than 50 retailers will fill hundreds of positions available for the upcoming holiday season. Sep 23, 10 am–6 pm, Metropolis at Metrotown (4700 Kingsway, Burnaby). Info www.metropolisatmetrotown.com/. ETSY: MADE IN CANADA The fourth annual pop-up shopping event features 150 local vendors, with proceeds to the Atira Women’s Resource Society. Sep 23, 11 am–7 pm; Sep 24, 10 am–5 pm, Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver Station (1755 Cottrell). Tix $7/4, info etsy.wishpond. com/madeincanada/.
PASSIONS FOR DR. PETER AIDS FOUNDATION Fundraising event for the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation features an auction and a lineup of Vancouver restaurants and bartenders. Sep 27, 6:30 pm, Performance Works (1218 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $300/225, info www. drpeter.org/events/Scotiabank%20 Passions/.
FREE MOMS AND TOTS WORKSHOPS Dance instructor and holistic registered nutritionist Carla Budd leads a kid-friendly dance and yoga session, followed by creating a nutritious snack. Sep 26, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. (4186 Main ). Free admission, info info@rockymountainflatbread.ca.
SPORTS
COLLEGE/SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY FOR TRAINING IN FILM OR MEDIA
2JUST ANNOUNCED
1. Vancouver Film School 2. Capilano University 3. UBC SINS OF THE CITY WALKING TOURS: RED LIGHT RENDEZVOUS Learn about Vancouver’s dark dens and hidden alleys where pimps and madams ruled the city with sex, prostitution, and corruption. Sep 23 & 30, 4-5:30 pm, Vancouver Police Museum (240 E. Cordova). Tix $18/14, info www.sinsofthecity.ca/. VIDLASER RADIOHEAD, DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, AND FREE ASTRONOMY SHOWS Take in a laserlight show choreographed to the music of Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Includes a free astronomy show. Sep 23, 7:15-11:30 pm, BCIT PLanetarium (3700 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby). Tix from free to $22, info www.roundhouseshows.com/. STUDY AND GO ABROAD FAIR Learn about undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and certificate programs, as well as gap year and travel options such as working abroad, volunteering, internships, and language travel. Sep 24, 1-5 pm, Vancouver Convention Centre East (999 Canada Place). Free admission, info www. studyandgoabroad.com/. STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW PODCAST Live show based on the podcast hosted by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark that cracks open the mechanics, history, and impact of things like Ouija boards, termites, and the use of MDMA to treat mental illness. Sep 26, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $32.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/.
NSDRC LIVE! 2017 Canadian comedy icons Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath headline a fundraiser to reduce barriers for people with disabilities. Proceeds go to the North Shore Disability Resource Centre Association. Sep 23, 7:30 pm, Centennial Theatre (2300 Lonsdale Ave.). Tix $50, info www.centennialtheatre.com/.
GLOBAL ENERGY RACE BY DEMPSTER’S For every kilometre completed by participants, two slices of bread will be donated to local Canadian food banks. Sep 24, 8:30 am–2 pm, Richmond Olympic Oval (6111 River Road). Tix $30/20, info www.raceroster. com/events/2017/12888/global-energyrace-by-dempsters/.
FROM BIG IDEA TO BIG LEAP Learn how to overcome the challenges that service professionals face in presenting their business online in an authentic way. Sep 26, 7-9 pm, Alliance for Arts and Culture (100–938 Howe). Tix $10 cash at the door, info www.meetup.com/YVR-Authors/ events/241989060/.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
KIDS’ STUFF
TAKE ACTION
HARD TARGET: SANCTIONS, INDUCEMENTS, AND THE CASE OF NORTH KOREA Stephan Haggard discusses authoritarian regimes like that of North Korea. Sep 22, 3:30-5 pm, C.K. Choi Building (1855 West Mall, UBC). Info iar.ubc.ca/events/event/hard-targetsanctions-inducements-and-the-case-ofnorth-korea/.
THE BOOK OF SWINDLES: SELECTIONS FROM A LATE MING COLLECTION The Book of Swindles, compiled by an obscure writer from southern China, presents a fascinating tableau of criminal ingenuity. Sep 25, 6:30 pm, SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings). Free admission, info www.sfu.ca/david lamcentre/events.html.
BEST 2 CITY LIFE
CANUCKS VS. FLAMES The Vancouver Canucks take on the Calgary Flames in National Hockey League preseason action. Sep 28, 7 pm, Rogers Arena. Tix $40.75-145.75 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
2THIS WEEK LIONS VS. TIGER-CATS The B.C. Lions take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canadian Football League action. Sep 22, 8 pm, BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Boulevard). Tix $25.50-138.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster. ca/. WHITECAPS VS. RAPIDS The Vancouver Whitecaps take on the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer action. Sep 23, 7 pm, BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Boulevard). Tix $29.50-142.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster. ca/.
OUT OF TOWN 2THIS WEEK MARINERS VS. INDIANS The Seattle Mariners take on the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball action. Sep 22, 7:10 pm, Safeco Field (1560 1st Ave. S., Seattle). Tix US$19-515 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
TIME OUT EVENTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. We can’t guarantee inclusion, and we give priority to events taking place within one week of publication. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
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FASHION 2THIS WEEK VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK International and local designers showcase their spring and summer 2018 collections. To Sep 24, 6-9 pm, David Lam Hall (50 E. Pender). Info www.vanfashionweek. com/.
FOOD AND DRINK 2THIS WEEK HOP DEVIL HOOTENANNY Harvest festival celebrates hops and barley with free corn on the cob, beer, and music by the Wooly Bears. Sep 23, 4-9 pm, Strange Fellows Brewing (1345 Clark Drive). Info www.strangefellowsbrewing.com/. MADE WITH LOVE VANCOUVER REGIONAL FINALS 2017 Twelve local bar chefs each present a unique,
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SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 29
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30 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Yet as is the name of the game called fame—particularly for one who appeared to achieve things so effortlessly, so expeditiously—the knives, always waiting in the wings, came out. As demand increased and everyone wanted a piece of her, her salary skyrocketed, becoming unaffordable and unattainable to the independents who made her famous. The complaints and unfair comparisons began. Pshaw, she’s not as urbane or polished as legendary stars like London, New York City, or Paris, they decried. She may look nice, but once you get to know her she’s cold, unfriendly, and standoffish, still others knocked. She cries far too much, everyone added. She’s moody, dark, and in desperate need of Prozac. She’s had work done, they criticized. She’s been to the “dentist”. She lies around high and naked on beaches, someone said while lying high and naked on a tanning bed. Ah, but you see, despite her much-debated rise to prominence, she has still retained a firm fan base, particularly among those who knew her before her name found its way into the vernacular.
Those who understood her realized that she was actually but a small-town girl thrust onto the international stage, with extremely high expectations thrown upon her within a relatively short period of time. She’s still developing, still learning, and still early on in her career, compared to many of the costars with whom she shares screen time. Yes, there are those of us among them all who, undeterred by the naysayers and crackpots and social-media critics, still recognize that she has numerous attributes to appreciate and admire. There are her multilingual skills and willingness to befriend those from differing backgrounds and cultures while also maintaining relationships with high-flying celebrities, politicians, public figures, and Deadpool. Though not always successful, she has striven to stand up for the marginalized, the persecuted, the overlooked. And there’s her willingness to poke fun at herself while laughing with others. And at them. And amid all of this, despite all of her f laws and shortcomings, deep down in her core, she still remains the one we always knew, and will always continue to be. And, with that, we’ve compiled our list of the best aspects of Vancouver, from her self-effacing embrace to where she is forging ahead as a global leader. And in the end, the real question is: who, exactly, are they anyway?
best of vancouver Once upon a
BY NATHA N C A D D E LL MA R TIN DU NPH Y GA IL JOH NSO N TA MM Y KWAN LUCY LAU TRAVIS L U PI CK C A RL ITO PABLO JENNIE R A M STAD A M A NDA SIE BE R T C HA R LIE SMI TH JA NET SMI TH C RA IG TA KEU CH I MIKE USI NGE R KATE W I LSO N
ILL USTRATIO N BY DAVI D KO
Pacific Standard Time, a bright-eyed, winsome, youthful starlet—seemingly out of nowhere—began popping up on red carpets around the world. Charmed by her relaxed demeanour and the breathtaking splendour of her features, they cooed: “Who is she?” Her name? Vancouver. “Surely you remember her breakthrough role in the comedy-drama Expo 86: Man in Motion?” others pointed out. You see, this precocious upstart had begun gracing top-10 lists before she cemented her stardom with her internationally acclaimed role in the 2010 action-thriller blockbuster XXI Olympic Winter Games (opposite her costar Whistler, and with the cast boasting the likes of Miga, Sumi, Mukmuk, and Quatchi, who have since faced severe career declines). Ah, such a breath of fresh air, they exclaimed. So natural! So quaint! So OMG! Agog with fascination, onlookers were amazed at how the little-known talent quickly absorbed a worldly sensibility yet retained a bucolic orientation, at home with both gritty urban dramas and heart-racing outdoor adventures.
NEWS & POLITICS BEST RELOCATION BY A CANNABIS EVENT
This year’s annual 4/20 event took place at Sunset Beach for the second year in a row, and although it certainly made the news for all the wrong reasons (excessive spending on policing by the city and unfortunate damage to a patch of grass), another cannabis event was talked about for all the right ones. Moving from its original location at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Cannabis Day was held at Thornton Park this year despite the park board’s lack of interest in providing organizers like Dana Larsen with a permit. The park, located next to Main Street– Science World SkyTrain Station, provided an accessible, shaded outdoor area for cannabis users to celebrate peacefully. And wouldn’t the park board know it: the event went off without a hitch (or a single incident of police involvement)—a welcome surprise, given the past few years of Cannabis Day–related antics. BEST NEWS FOR QMUNITY
At Qmunity’s 13th annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia breakfast in May, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced that city council had voted unanimously to provide Qmunity— B.C.’s queer resource centre, based in Vancouver—a new 10,000-square-foot home in a building to be built at the corner of Burrard and Davie streets. The announcement ended more than two decades of searching for a new location, as the centre has long outgrown the inadequate, aging, and wheelchairinaccessible second-floor premises at Bute and Davie streets where it has resided since 1985. The new space, a combination of ground-floor and see next page
BEST 2 LIFESTYLE NEW CONDO DEVELOPMENT
PLACE TO BUY RRSPS
AUTO SERVICE (CHAIN)
USED-CAR DEALER
SCOOTER DEALER
1. Vancouver House (Westbank) 2. NAVÍO at the Creek (Concert) 3. Ellsworth (Chard Development Ltd.)
1. TD Canada Trust 2. RBC Royal Bank 3. Vancity
1. OK Tire 2. Mr. Lube 3. Kal Tire
CAR-SHARE SERVICE
HYBRID CAR
1. Evo Car Share 2. car2go 3. Modo
1. Toyota Prius 2. Ford Fusion Hybrid 3. Mercedes-Benz car2go
1. Autoform 1885 Clark Drive 2. Lucky 8 Auto Sales 715 Kingsway 3. Blue Star Motors 2216 Main Street
1. Motorino 336 West 2nd Avenue 2. Vespa Metro 590 Clark Drive 3. Daytona Motorsports Various locations
AUTO SERVICE (INDEPENDENT)
NEW-CAR DEALER
1. Pawlik Automotive Repair 30–966 Southwest Marine Drive 2. Lee’s Transmissions 1350 East Hastings Street 3. Tremblay Motors 1505 West 3rd Avenue
1. Brian Jessel BMW 2311 Boundary Road 2. Carter Honda 2390 Burrard Street 3. MCL Motor Cars 1730 Burrard Street
PLACE TO GET A MORTGAGE
1. RBC Royal Bank 2. TD Canada Trust 3. Vancity HIP BANK OR CREDIT UNION
1. Vancity 2. Coast Capital 3. BlueShore Financial
AUTO-BODY REPAIR SHOP
1. Craftsman Collision Various locations 2. Colorworks Various locations 3. Boyd Autobody and Glass (tie) Various locations 3. Korva World Class Collision (tie) 231 West 2nd Avenue
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
1. Carter Honda Motorsports 1502 West 3rd Avenue 2. International Motosports Various locations 3. Vancouver BMW Ducati 3061 Grandview Highway
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 31
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upper-floor offices, will be ready in three to five years and will provide greater LGBT visibility, something important in countering historical and ongoing discrimination. BEST EXCUSE VANCOUVER POLICE HAVE FOR RAIDING DISPENSARIES
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on the night of her defeat by cranking Death Sentence’s “In Flames”.
from previous page
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BEST PUNK-ROCK CREDENTIALS FROM A POLITICIAN
Perhaps sensing that she desperately needed to score some cool points ahead of this past spring’s provincial election, former B.C. premier Christy Clark decided to reveal a side of herself few knew. Agreeing to an interview with Vancouver’s legendary Nardwuar the Human Serviette, the then Liberal party leader showed herself to be not only human but also a fan of the Subhumans. And D.O.A. and Pointed Sticks. Over the course of 16 minutes, Clark reminisced about sneaking out of her Burnaby home to attend Vancouver punk shows, earned bragging rights for catching the Replacements at the Town Pump, and talked about buying Clash records on vinyl (back when vinyl wasn’t cool but the sensible alternative to 8-track tapes). Who cares if the gig where she’s convinced she saw D.O.A. headlining the Italian Cultural Centre on Halloween actually consisted of the Pointed Sticks, Young Canadians, and B-Sides—at least she wasn’t strutting around the Lower Mainland in the ’80s wearing red leather pants and a terrycloth headband while listening to Loverboy. Clark, of course, went on to lose the election—but it’s cool to imagine her drowning her sorrows
New Westminster was the last Lower Mainland city to ban smoking on patios, but there’s still one venue in the riverside town where you can get away with hacking a dart. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of taking a Vancouver Paddlewheeler tour from the docks at Westminster Quay, you’ll know that the upper deck of the M.V. Native, a replica of a 19th-century paddlewheeler, is the last legal public place in the Lower Mainland where you can simultaneously indulge in a cigarette and a cocktail. BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY A CANADIAN POLITICIAN
Saturday Night Live once lampooned a former U.S. attorney general with “Janet Reno’s Dance Party” sketches, but a Canadian politician was not shy about actually joining in a local dance party. At this year’s Pride parade, Canada’s defence minister, Harjit Sajjan, jumped on to Sher Vancouver’s float to show off his best Bollywood moves. Showing he’s no stranger to screen industries, the badass Sajjan also later met with Vancouver badass Ryan Reynolds on the badass set of Deadpool 2. Could “Harjit Sajjan’s Badass Bollywood Dance Party” be next on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes? Let’s hope so. BEST EVIDENCE THAT WELFARE RATES IN B.C. ARE WAY BEHIND THE TIMES
A report to the Vancouver police board in July this year stated that panhandlers in South Granville have see page 35
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32 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
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Wendy Williams Watt’s Big Love Balls—giant, five-foot-diameter inflatable spheres with the four-letter L-word emblazoning them— carry a simple message that’s catching on around the planet. Not only have they been Instagrammed and Pinned from the Netherlands to Japan, the Vancouver artist and interior designer has seen them installed everywhere from New York City’s Ground Zero (where passersby wrote “love notes” on them in black marker) to the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza. Watt’s message is an uncomplicated call for human compassion in a divided world, and it’s resonating. Her balls now come in a variety of sizes and colours, from lime green to hot pink (which she bounced onto the VAG site to mark International Women’s Day on March 8 this year). The Big Love Balls have been used in everything from a dance work by Noam Gagnon and Ziyian Kwan to rescue-animal charity campaigns to Dîner en Blanc and the Pride parade. As Watt puts it, the project is “an irresistible invitation to connect. In a moment it has become a movement”—a movement that appears to keep rolling along. Sam Park photo.
VOTED BEST SHOE STORE IN VANCOUVER ( WE VOTED T WICE)
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SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 33
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34 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
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decided not to run for a third term so he could seek the B.C. NDP nomination for Vancouver-Fraserview. He lost to Gabriel Yiu, who then lost to Anton in the 2013 provincial election. In that same election, Chow ran for the NDP in Vancouver-Langara and lost to B.C. Liberal Moira Stilwell.
Best of Vancouver
from page 32
refused offers of welfare support from the government. According to the document, panhandlers were not interested because they can make $1,000 a month from begging, which was more than the $610 income-assistance rate at that time. The new B.C. NDP government raised welfare rates by $100 starting September 20.
CYCLISTS’ BEST BUREAUCRAT
The city’s transportation czar, Lon LaClaire, has been taking pavement away from motorists and giving it to cyclists for years. And it’s not only at high-profile locations like on the Burrard Bridge or along Hornby and Dunsmuir streets. He has also overseen the introduction of intersection changes all over the city—Cypress and Broadway is one, and Burrard and West 7th is another—to prevent cars from turning off main arterials onto cycling routes. It’s all in the name of cyclists’ safety, even as it triggers occasional road rage among drivers when they come across the latest of LaClaire’s “improvements”. But, hey, you can’t criticize the results: Vancouver has the highest percentage of commuter cyclists in North America.
BEST MEASURE TO PREPARE NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR CRISIS
Vancouver city hall recently approved a pilot project to help local communities build the capacity to deal with emergencies and disasters. A staff report cited risks posed by extreme weather and seismic events disrupting everyday life. Grandview-Woodland, Dunbar, Renfrew-Collingwood, and the Downtown Eastside were chosen to participate in the launch of the Resilient Neighbourhoods Program. BEST PROOF THAT CORPORATE AND UNION DONATIONS ARE DESPISED BY THE PUBLIC
Individual donors cracked open their wallets and chequebooks for the B.C. Green Party after it declared in September 2016 that it will not accept donations from corporations and unions. In that year, with most contributions flowing in after the announcement, the provincial Greens set a historic fundraising record, raising 93 percent more money than the previous year. BEST NDP GIFT TO STRINGY, TOUGH OLD GRIZZLY BEARS
The B.C. NDP government is ending the grizzly-bear trophy hunt in the province effective November 30. About 250 grizzly bears are killed by hunters each year in B.C. However, conservationists are worried that although the trophy gathering of such parts as claws, head, and hide is going to be over, hunters are still going to be allowed to kill bears for meat.
BEST 2 ARTISTIC RESPONSE TO THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC It’s been a tough few years for the Downtown Eastside. The arrival of the synthetic-opioid fentanyl sent fatal overdoses in the neighbourhood soaring and there’s no end in sight to the epidemic. And so, in early September, it was nice to see some colour added to the place. With the support of the Portland Hotel Society, Culture Saves Lives, and the City of Vancouver, artists Jerry Whitehead, Corey Larocque, and Sharifah Marsden painted a thunderbird with its wings stretched out above a quilt. Titled The Healing Quilt: Blanketing Our Lost Loved Ones, the mural is 10 storeys tall and covers an entire side of PHS’s headquarters at 20 West Hastings Street. As a final touch, there’s a quote from Downtown Eastside poet and activist Bud Osborn: “There is no one to care,” it reads, “if you do not care.” Travis Lupick photo.
The government is also stopping the department last year adopted a rechunting of grizzlies in all of the Great ommendation directing officers to refer to transgender individuals Bear Rainforest. by their preferred names and proBEST SIGN THAT THE VPD IS nouns. This was followed by more MENDING ITS WAYS WITH reforms approved in July this year TRANSGENDER PEOPLE by the police board in connection The Vancouver police used to with searches. These include alhave no guidelines on how offi- lowing a transgender person in cers should deal with transgender custody to request the gender of the people, but that is changing. Fol- officer do a search, a practice that lowing a 2015 decision by the is already in place in cities such as B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, the Port Moody and Victoria.
BEST POLITICAL COMEBACK BY A VANCOUVER POLITICIAN
George Chow is back, big-time. As a B.C. NDP candidate, he pulled an upset in the May 9 provincial election, when he defeated B.C. Liberal MLA and cabinet member Suzanne Anton in Vancouver-Fraserview. It revived Chow’s political career, long thought by some to be over following previous unsuccessful forays into provincial politics. In 2011, then a second-term Vancouver city councillor, Chow
BEST POLITICAL FAUX PAS
During the provincial election campaign, B.C. Liberal political fixers launched social-media attacks on Linda Higgins after she was brushed off by Christy Clark in a North Vancouver grocery store. The smearing backfired when what should have been a forgettable one-day news story turned into the hashtag #IamLinda and an election-campaign fiasco lasting for days. The party came across as petty and mean-spirited, reinforcing the worst aspects of the B.C. Liberals’ brand. And this contributed to the party losing control of the B.C. legislature and Clark’s resignation. How dumb was that? BEST POLITICAL CONNECTIONS
Geoff Meggs jumped from Vancouver city council to become Premier John Horgan’s chief of staff. As a result, Meggs just might be the second-most see next page
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 35
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BEST 2 BITE-SIZED ART BUYS Each year at the Crawl, the aptly named SnackArt Collective makes collectors out of even the most financially strapped among us. It curates limited-edition Instagram prints, tagged #eastvan by camerahappy posters. They’re numbered and available for purchase from an old-school vending machine; look for it across from Studio #200 in the vast Parker Street labyrinth (1000 Parker Street) when the massive event takes place November 16 to 19. Last year, the artful shots went for a toonie apiece.
Best of Vancouver
from previous page
powerful person in the province. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t win the provincial NDP nomination in Vancouver-Fairview and who was barely reelected to council in 2014. BEST WAY TO GENERATE TRUST WITH THE ELECTORATE
Last year, former park commissioner Sarah Blyth became something of a saint to many drug addicts and their families for launching pop-up supervised-injection sites along with Ann Livingston and other volunteers. So a political endorsement from Blyth should carry some weight, right? That’s the way it usually works: get a respected voice to speak on a candidate’s behalf and the candidate’s esteem grows in the eyes of the public. But Blyth doesn’t play the political game like other third-party endorsers. Here’s what she had to say over Twitter about Vision Vancouver school-board candidate Theo Lamb: “I fell in dogshit on the Drive (long story.) and @theolamb saved me…” And for this and many other reasons, Blyth declared that she will vote for Lamb in the election on October 14. Sounds like a good enough reason for us.
BEST RESPONSE TO A CIVIC-DESIGN FAIL
BEST PREDICTABLE POLITICAL LETDOWN
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The NDP was elected on a promise to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in its first term in office. Then, shortly after the government was formed, Labour Minister Harry Bains appeared in the media to revoke the promise. How utterly predictable. BEST EFFORT BY A POLITICIAN TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION
RSVP BY September 27
36 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
is Khelsilem, an Indigenous-languages expert at Simon Fraser University. “I decided to do it because it seemed weird to be able to do a welcome in several other languages to help people from different cultures feel seen and valued in Vancouver but not to be able to acknowledge a welcome from the local First Nations in the language that belongs to the land.”
At a TaiwanFest classical-music concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Coun. Andrea Reimer delivered fairly lengthy opening remarks in the language of the Squamish people. Some in the audience—including many of Taiwanese ancestry—might have been confused by what they had heard, because there is the occasional similarity between this Indigenous language and some Chinese dialects. This prompted Reimer to quip that she wasn’t speaking really bad Mandarin. She later revealed to the Straight that her teacher
The City of Vancouver unveiled a new civic logo in February—and boy was it, erm, not pretty. The refreshed emblem did away with the current emblem’s floral motif and instead featured the words City of Vancouver in an uninspiring Gotham font, prompting the local design community to pen an open—and scathing— letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Please, spare us from this new logo,” industry experts pleaded after calling the wordmark an “insult to the design and creative sector” and “to Vancouverites and all who love our city”. Hilariously harsh? Yes. Effective? Yes—Robertson announced days later that rollout of the wordmark would be halted immediately. A redesign has yet to be announced. CITY LIFE
Sell your goddamned car. There is no other way. BEST REASON WHY VANCOUVER NEEDS RIDE-SHARING ASAP
Because there are not enough taxis to accommodate the massive numbers of tourists, travellers, and locals who don’t drive/bike/bus/SkyTrain/ walk in Metro Vancouver. And, frankly, it’s embarrassing to be one of the largest cities in North America not to offer this service. When the day comes that ride-sharing is legal around here, we’ll all feel like Vancouver has entered a more modern age. BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH SPOILED, MISBEHAVING, OR REBELLIOUS CHILDREN
Threaten to take them down to the Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf and feed them to the sea lions. see page 38
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SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 37
Best of Vancouver
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BEST WAY TO GET HOT, WET, AND TIRED
Just wait for public transit at any of Vancouver’s TransLink bus shelters. The incompetent design of these misnamed “shelters”—with their transparent roofs slanted upwards to the sky—guarantees that on blast-furnace summer days you get, literally, zero shade and on wet days with wind gusting in the wrong direction you get rain blowing over the lower half of your body and soaking the inadequate seating—if the bench hasn’t already
been removed to discourage our city’s homeless from stretching out to catch a nap above the dirty, cold pavement. Huge fail, TransLink. BEST REASON TO STAY IN A DEAD-END RELATIONSHIP
Picture this: you and your partner have been living together for a while but you’ve reached the point where the appeal of being independent is starting to surpass the appeal (or lack thereof) of sleeping next to a person who still hasn’t learned to share the sheets at night. The only problem? Vancouver’s crippling rental market means that there is no reasonably affordable
equivalent to the $1,200 one-bedroom suite the two of you have been splitting for the past few years. With vacancy rates lower than ever and rents at an all-time high, choosing between your independence and cold feet every night might be an easier decision than you think—especially when the most affordable option is an $1,800-permonth, 350-square-foot, windowless microsuite in the West End. BEST RETRO SIGN
While most locations of this fast-food chain have either updated their rundown exteriors in favour of more modern décor or joined forces with Orange
Julius, we get hit with a pretty serious wave of nostalgia every time we pass by the Dairy Queen at East Hastings Street and Lakewood Drive. This oldschool location hasn’t changed a bit since it opened, probably in the ’50s. (Fun fact: Vancouver-based actor and former Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten worked at this Dairy Queen as a teenager.) Although updated shops simply go by “DQ”, this location still bears the full name and even uses the word Brazier on a separate sign—Dairy Queen’s way of indicating that it serves grilled food, which began being phased out of most signs as early as 1993. But our favourite
BEST 2 LIFESTYLE PET SUPPLY STORE
1. Bosley’s by Pet Valu Various locations 2. Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply Stores Various locations 3. Bones Pet Stores 181 Smithe Street ANIMAL HOSPITAL
1. Anderson Animal Hospital 8465 Granville Street 2. Cypress St. Animal Hospital 1893 Cornwall Avenue 3. Granville Island Veterinary Hospital 1635 West 4th Avenue
DOGGIE DAYCARE/BOARDING FACILITY
1. The Urban Puppy Shop 200–1375 West 6th Avenue 2. Rex Dog Hotel + Spa 760 Terminal Avenue 3. Release the Hounds 194–3381 Cambie Street CELLPHONE SERVICE PROVIDER
1. Telus Mobility 2. Fido 3. Rogers Wireless
PET GROOMING/PET SPA
1. Pawsh Dog Spa + Boutique 80 Smithe Street 2. Spa Dog Organic Dog Spa 3471 Commercial Street 3. Pet Shop Boys 3080 Cambie Street PLACE TO MAKE A BET
1. Hastings Racecourse Hastings Park 2. River Rock Casino 8811 River Road, Richmond 3. Edgewater Casino 760 Pacific Boulevard South
LOCAL TOY STORE
1. The Granville Island Toy Company Various locations 2. Kaboodles Toy Store Various locations 3. Dilly Dally Toys & Delights 1161 Commercial Drive RELIABLE HOME INTERNET PROVIDER
1. Shaw 2. Telus 3. Novus
characteristic of this burger/ice-cream joint that seems to be stuck in the past is the intermittently blinking lights lining the message board. BEST COMMEMORATION OF THE SEX WORKERS’ COMMUNITY THAT ONCE FLOURISHED IN THE WEST END
A memorial consisting of a Victorianstyle lamppost with a red light was unveiled last September to honour the memory of sex workers who were expelled from the West End of Vancouver during the 1980s. The commemorative project was initiated by activist Jamie Lee Hamilton, who was once part of the sex workers’ community that flourished in the neighbourhood during the ’70s and ’80s, a time that she described as the “golden age” of prostitution in Vancouver. BEST PARKLET
What the hell is a parklet, you may ask? It’s an area of street parking that’s been converted into a public-seating area. There are a half-dozen around Vancouver, and the best example is the Sunny Slopes Parklet outside the Rain or Shine Homemade Ice Cream outlet on West 4th Avenue. It includes two levels of seating and a minigarden, creating a comfy oasis along a somewhat busy thoroughfare. But be forewarned: this parklet is packed in the see page 40
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Coal Harbour. It was a On June 28, 2010, Bella Gelateria opened its doors in Coleridge. Anna left her proud moment for the co-founders, James and Anna quest to start a family corporate career and James left his Summits of Canada a second child on the with old year one a of family young then the for s busines to found a family desire a was It later. way who was born almost three months /management branding te corpora of s strength e collectiv their on business based brand. iconic this create and entrepreneurship that would in Venice, Italy where peoAlmost 14 years ago, James and Anna were married by clapping and shouting ple congratulated the newlywed couple on the streets named after this beautiful was a Gelateri Bella and ul” “Bella”. Bella means “beautif Italian honeymoon eating day. The newlywed couple spent three weeks on their how different it was from believe couldn’t couple gelato from various regions. The until their desire to creagain gelato about thought really hadn’t They ice cream. eating gelato. Thus, times happy of ing ate a family business had them reminisc is history. rest the and born was a Gelateri Bella for idea the of all the wonderful I am proud to accept the 2017 Best Gelato award on behalf go to our gelato masstaff who have supported the company. Special thanks protege who were ters, Andres, Caner, Eric, Fabrizio and Salvatore the original award-winning our created and family Bella the of instrumental to the success both Coal Harbour and gelato day in and day out. Thank you to all the staff at 2017 Bella Gelateria Yaletown who made things happen. On September 19, owner of Bellagio the ed welcom and am 11 at doors its closed n Yaletow gelato has only been quality a Gelateri Restaurants. Since September 19th, Bella Cordova Street. West 1001 at location Harbour Coal our at only available le journey, life lessons, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for an incredib ge. It has been an and for becoming part of our Bella family with your patrona in life with an even incredible 7 years and I look forward to the next chapter the best old-world stronger family. A new Bella family will continue to bring handcrafted gelato to Vancouver and beyond.
With gratitude, Anna Coleridge, Director, Bella Gelateria
@bellagelateria
bellagelateria
SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 39
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BEST 2 NEW MURAL ON THE WEST SIDE
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This summer, the outdoor shopping mall and restaurant zone along West 4th Avenue was jazzed up by a shimmering, massive mural. The husband and wife team of Steve and Sandy Pell painted #kitswings on a 12-by–7.5-metre wall on the northwest corner of West 4th and Burrard Street. Kitsilano West 4th Avenue Business Association executive director Jane McFadden (photographed above) devised the winged theme, and the artists went from there, taking their inspiration from the bald eagles living near Kits Beach. “I tried, as I was moving out from the centre of the mural out to the side...to almost give it a bit of a seashell shape to celebrate the oceans of Vancouver,” Sandy Pell told the Straight. In the morning, as the sun rises in the east, the mural’s metallic paint is at its most reflective, making this the ideal time—for anyone thinking of cycling southbound up the new Burrard Street separated bike lane—to take a selfie and share it on social media. Carl Leduc photo.
design, Dialog and James Cheng. The 600,000-square-foot project will be completed next year and is certain to summer with West Siders gobbling be a talking point for decades to come. their vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry cones. If you go at that time of BEST LEGAL MANIFESTO year, you might find yourself standing FOR THE ANIMALS UBC associate professor of law, policy, on the sidewalk. and sustainability David Boyd has a BEST EXAMPLE THAT NOT stunning new book outlining the batEVERYONE CAN BE BOUGHT tle in various countries to provide aniA Vancouver homeowner gave the fin- mals with much greater legal rights. ger to city hall by refusing to sell in a In Argentina, he writes, a court ruled land assembly for a public-housing that an orangutan was a “non-human project on Southwest Marine Drive. As person” whose rights included “avoidtold by one city executive, the property ing suffering from being in captivity”. owner didn’t budge even when offered In another case involving a chimpanmore than the neighbours got. This zee, an Argentine judge stated that means that the city will have to build it’s “not a correct standard” to clason two spots, with the holdout sitting sify animals as things. “From India in the middle. to Ecuador, courts are beginning to acknowledge a revolution in the legal BEST GUARDIAN LIONS system, emphasizing the importance Behind the new Old Beijing Duck of recognizing nature’s rights to adRestaurant on West Broadway sit two dress today’s environmental woes,” massive stone lions, guarding the rear Boyd points out in The Rights of Naparking lot. They look like they weigh ture: A Legal Revolution That Could several hundred kilos each. One of Save the World. In recent centuries, the guardian lions has a paw over a the law has “treated non-human aniball, symbolizing his supremacy over mals as property intended for human the world. Another’s paw is keeping use and exploitation”, according to a playful cub at bay, illustrating how Boyd. But greater scientific underthese animals nurture their young. standing of animals’ consciousness Guardian lions have traditionally is changing the legal dynamics. “We been placed in front of Chinese im- need to place ecological literacy on par perial palaces and government offices, with reading, writing, and arithmetic so it makes sense that a pair would be as foundational learning in our eduin the vicinity of a high-end restaurant cation systems,” Boyd writes. “People that summons up the aura and cuisine need to speak out about the rights of of imperial China. Wanna take a selfie nature and elect politicians who are with a stone lion? Visit the alley north willing to do the same.” of the 1600 block of West Broadway.
Best of Vancouver
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BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR ANIMAL STATUES
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Vancouver’s Fairview area is not only home to two great guardian lions (see above), it also hosts a spectacular solo lion outside the Queen Mary apartments on West 14th Avenue. The Straight’s Homeless in Vancouver blogger, Stanley Q. Woodvine, has also spotted sculptures of an elephant and a bear outside a building on West 11th Avenue in Fairview. But perhaps the most arresting statue of all is a bronze sculpture called Jeri outside 1622 West 7th Avenue. Created by James Stewart, it shows a tautly muscled, slightly larger than life bald man hunched down with his arms outstretched. (Yes, Homo sapiens are animals—as much as we sometimes try to deny the fact.)
BEST GRASSROOTS PROGRAM OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO HARD DRUGS
After Sarah Blyth saw that her overdose-prevention-site model set the tone for the implementation of similar sites across the country, she started thinking about how to provide drug users with more than just a place to safely consume. She wanted to give them alternatives. By appealing to those in the local cannabis industry, Blyth started the High Hopes Foundation, a program that provides users in the Downtown Eastside with natural alternatives to hard drugs. Instead of using crack or heroin, subsidized (and often free) options like cannabis, cannabis edibles, kratom, and coca-leaf tea are providing users with a safer way to ease their pain. There is a reason that Blyth’s take-no-shit approach BEST CURVY BUILDING FRAME to harm reduction has been emulated UNDER CONSTRUCTION in other municipalities, and she says It’s gotta be Vancouver House, which is she’s already getting questions from sloped in an oddly shaped way beside frontline workers in Ontario about the Howe Street onramp to the Gran- implementing something similar. ville Bridge. Passersby might wonder what the construction workers might BEST WAY TO SAY “FUCK YOU” have been smokin’, but this was ac- TO DONALD TRUMP tually the intention of Danish starchi- January’s chilly weather didn’t stop tect Bjarke Ingels and his partners in thousands of Vancouverites from
flocking to Jack Poole Plaza to stand in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. The event served two purposes: first, to champion the liberties of those attacked and demonized during Donald Trump’s campaign; second, to collectively stick our figurative middle fingers up in the air at the man who so eagerly claimed that we should be grabbed by the pussy. Vancouverites and residents of the Lower Mainland came out in droves, carrying signs that advocated for LGBT rights, reproductive rights, the end of white supremacy, the dismantling of the patriarchy, the value of black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of colour, and more. BEST CURE FOR VISITING THE KIDS’ MARKET
Although it makes sense for this spot on Granville Island to be a popular destination for children, it can be a literal headache for parents who find themselves in the presence of more kids, toys, and loud noises than they bargained for. It’s a good thing, then, that Mary Jean “Watermelon” Dunsdon opened up the Granville Island Licorice Parlour in the heart of the Kid’s Market earlier this year. Not only are Dunsdon’s imported European treats a healthier alternative to the sugar-laden garbage that your kids beg for, these organic, sugar-free candies serve as a tasty treat for a mom in need. BEST WAY TO WEAR YOUR EAST VAN PRIDE
Grubwear has come out with a range of kickass ways to wear your East Van roots on your sleeve, your chest, and just about anywhere else. The label behind Studiotique (617 Kingsway) has everything from EASTVANAF long-sleeve pullovers to retro-font Mount Pleasant tees and East Van cross snap-back hats. But our favourite new accessories are their denimjacket-friendly six-button Pride Packs, with pins that celebrate everything from the Kingsway and Fraser intersection to Dude Chilling Park. And no East-of-Main dweller is too tiny to rock their ’hood: there are kids’-size Dude Chilling tees, and check out the black-and-white East Van cross onesie for babies. BEST PLACE TO SPOT FUZZY, SEMIFERAL RABBITS
If you’re in the neighbourhood around dusk or dawn, scope out the area around the Jericho Sailing Centre for some cute-as-a-button local fauna of the rabbit variety. Presumably the descendants of escaped or released pets, the population has increased due to the fact that they breed like, well, rabbits. All I know is that they’ve got their Watership Down auditions nailed. see next page
BEST WAY TO TELL ANTI-MUSLIM AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT ACTIVISTS TO KICK ROCKS
As thousands of Vancouverites did in August, arrive in droves at the bigots’ planned site of protest to conduct your own counter-rally. The massive show of solidarity—and the stand against hate—will be enough to overwhelm the ignorant, who will likely be unsure what to do with themselves in the presence of so many well-intentioned, rational-thinking human beings. BEST BOOST TO MENTAL HEALTH
The new Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre at Vancouver General Hospital provides short-term, acute care to people suffering from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychotic and mood disorders, and drug and alcohol addiction. Vancouver business mogul and philanthropist Joseph Segal gave $12 million to help get the eight-storey facility built—a sum believed to be the largest personal donation to mental health in Canadian history. “There are so many people that walk the streets that have nowhere to turn, no one to talk to, that have given up on life,” the nonagenarian said earlier this year. “You have to provide people with hope; you have to provide people with support—not just financial, that goes without saying; support morally. Understanding.” BEST NEVER-ENDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Amazing as this might be, bike lanes are no longer the number one reason to bitch about what’s happened to the ever-evolving Burrard Street bridge. To forget that the 1930s structure has seemingly been under construction longer than Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia is to get stuck in gridlock that reminds you why you don’t live in Surrey. Things are, however, finally getting to the point where we can see what the finished product might one day look like. Highlights include artdeco-meets-art-nouveau street lamps that wouldn’t look out of place on Paris’s Pont Alexandre III, as well as expanded sidewalks seemingly inspired by the Champs-Élysées. The bad news? Well, that’s easy—by the time the bridge renos are finished, everyone in Vancouver will be getting around by either flying cars or jet pack. BEST HOLDOUT
Big Rich’s Adult Video 229 Southeast Marine Drive The best thing about Al Gore inventing the Internet is that there’s no need to leave home when you need to get your rocks off. Back in the day, a good pud-pulling session required a Red Hot Video visit, where you’d casually inform the clerk you needed Leave It to Cleavage and Womb Raider for a sociology paper. Now an Internet
connection gives you access to an endless buffet of smut. Evidently undaunted by this reality, Big Rich’s Adult Video continues to operate in a nondescript Marine Drive minimall. That the store soldiers on in a world gone digital suggests some folks still enjoy donning a trench coat and sunglasses and doing the walk of shame. Consider, for example, Yelp user Shila B., who—after wondering why no one else has reviewed Big Rich’s—writes: “[I] viewed some gems and even bought some discount stuff. It’s not the best or go to store, however, it’s close to home when I need it.” Clearly, for some, the thrill of discovering a full-length stream of Shaving Ryan’s Privates on pornhub.com isn’t as exhilarating as renting the real thing on VHS. BEST SOUL-SUCKING BUS ROUTE
More often delayed than not, the No. 10 bus route is notoriously erratic and crowded at the best of times. Operating on the somewhat imprecise scheduling philosophy of “I’ll get there when I get there”, it runs from the sinking pit that is downtown to parts unknown and is the bane of my existence. But hey, at least it’s the best at being horrible. That’s something, right? BEST HOTEL TO DISCOVER THE CITY’S ORIGINAL CULTURE
Vancouver is packed with high-profile luxury-hotel chains, from the Fairmont to the Shangri-La and the Sheraton. For those looking for something both boutique and outside the box, however, it’s more than worth spending a night at the Skwachays Lodge (31 West Pender Street). Owned and operated by the Vancouver Native Housing Society, the building contains 18 unique rooms, including the Forest Spirits Suite—which features floor-to-ceiling birch branches—and the Northern Lights Suite, decorated with a beaded black-bear sculpture. The hotel is designed to showcase First Nations creations and culture and boasts a 12-metre rooftop totem pole, an on-site fair-trade gallery, and 24 live/work Indigenous-artist studios below the hotel. Located steps away from Gastown, it’s close enough to hit all the best tourist hot spots yet far away enough to feel secluded from the bustle of the downtown core. BEST WAY TO PISS OFF LOCALS WITHOUT MENTIONING BIKE LANES, REAL ESTATE, OR CHRISTY CLARK
Ride-hailing giant Uber is still months away from legally entering the B.C. market, but the company has already mastered the art of leaving locals fuming on social media thanks to a disastrously executed free-ice-cream deal this summer. Those thinking logically will tell you to get real: the promotion,
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BEST 2 LIFESTYLE HOME APPLIANCE STORE
1. McIver’s Appliances 38 East 69th Avenue 2. Trail Appliances Various locations 3. Midland Appliance Various locations
HOME ACCESSORY/DÉCOR STORE
1. HomeSense Various locations 2. The Cross Decor & Design 1198 Homer Street 3. Country Furniture Various locations FLORIST
1. Flower Factory 4285 Main Street 2. Mayhew Sherwood Florist 3691 West Broadway 3. Celsia Floral 1930 Arbutus Street GIFT SHOP
1. Obsessions Retail 101–595 Howe Street 2. Bird on a Wire Creations 2535 Main Street 3. Walrus 3408 Cambie Street
TATTOO STUDIO
1. Adrenaline Vancity Various locations 2. Gastown Tattoo Parlour 105 West Cordova Street 3. Liquid Amber Tattoo and Art Collective 62 Powell Street
STUDIO, ONE & TWO BEDROOM SUITES OUTDOOR POOL & HOT TUB
RECORD/VINYL STORE
1. Red Cat Records 4332 Main Street 2. Zulu Records 1972 West 4th Avenue 3. Neptoon Records 3561 Main Street MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE
1. Long & McQuade Various locations 2. Tom Lee Music Various locations 3. Tapestry Music Various locations
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Most would say it’s the North Shore mountains—and it’s hard to disagree with that. But it’s also always a delight to see the permanent rainbow poking up over the horizon of the West End on top of the Sandman Suites on Davie Street. Painted in 2014, it serves as a glorious message to tourists coming into downtown from the airport via Granville Street that our city is not just tolerant but positively LGBT– friendly. The 17-by-7-metre mural is just a short walk away from the rainbow sidewalk at the corner of Davie and Bute streets. According to the hotel, the concept was: “A heart of gold where the rainbow begins”. But there’s also another delightful LGBT–friendly view from the bridge if you’re on the sidewalk peering over the railing at the right time. And that’s the rainbow-coloured roofs of the Aquabuses plying the waters of False Creek. Janet McDonald photo.
official first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. You might end up wanting to pursue a cawhich promised the delivery of com- reer as a librarian after taking a visit to plimentary Earnest Ice Cream sand- this magical place. wiches to Uber users, was a ploy to get Vancouverites to download the app all BEST TEAM TO SAVE YOUR LIFE along. But it’s a lot more fun to tweet Last December, the B.C. Ministry of snide comments at the ride-sharing Health used emergency powers to biz while slyly taking shots at its open more than 15 new overdoseprevention sites. These bare-bones allegedly misogynistic work culture. facilities serve as relatively safe spaces BEST PLACE TO UNLEASH YOUR where people can bring drugs and inINNER LIBRARIAN ject under supervision. They required For those who find books and historic- the government to hire a small army al artifacts fascinating, we suggest you on less than a week’s notice. One take a trip to the UBC Library’s Rare group stepped up to make it happen: Books and Special Collections (RBSC) drug users themselves, along with at the Irving K. Barber Learning Cen- their friends and families. People tre. It houses everything from a 13th- like Lee Tran. (“Previously in my life, century Bible to extremely rare Chi- once, I was a drug addict,” he told the nese books, from Japanese maps of the Straight last winter. “And so I feel what Tokugawa period to Charles Darwin these guys are going through. I know letters, and, in the Chung Collection, what they need. And I heard about this more than 25,000 unique items that work, so I felt like this was something highlight the importance of Chinese- I wanted to do.”) And Sue Ouelette, Canadian history. Even if you don’t Kevin Thompson, Dave Chevelday, normally find libraries and books in- Melissa Patton, Daniel Stadt, George teresting, you may geek out when you McPhee, Tina Shaw, and Robin Mccome face to face with RBSC’s first edi- Intosh. They’re ordinary people who see next page tions of the Harry Potter series or the
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BEST 2 SPORTS & RECREATION INDOOR CLIMBING GYM
1. The Hive Various locations 2. Laserdome Plus 2455 Dollarton Highway, North Vancouver 3. Cliffhanger Vancouver 670 Industrial Avenue SNOWBOARD SHOP
1. The Boardroom Various locations 2. Comor – Go Play Outside 1766 West 4th Avenue 3. Pacific Boarder 1793 West 4th Avenue
ICE-SKATE SHOP
1. Cyclone Taylor Sports Various locations 2. Sports Junkies 102 West Broadway 3. Larry’s Sports 2029 Lonsdale Avenue SKATEBOARD SHOP
1. Antisocial Skateboard Shop 2327 Main Street 2. The Boardroom Various locations 3. PD’S Hot Shop 3734 West 10th Avenue
SKI SHOP
1. Comor – Go Play Outside 1766 West 4th Avenue 2. Destination Slope & Surf Outfitters 105–1550 Marine Drive, North Vancouver 3. North Shore Ski and Board 1625 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver
dedicated the entire last year of their lives to helping addicts survive B.C.’s overdose epidemic. While firefighters and paramedics are praised for the burden they’ve carried since fentanyl arrived, the Downtown Eastside’s teams of overdose-prevention-site staffers have received less attention. On the frontlines, earning low pay and working with little support from government, they’ve responded to hundreds of overdoses and, to date, every single intervention has saved a life. “They are true heroes,” said Coco Culbertson, one of the sites’ managers. BEST WAY TO BRING COLOUR TO DATA
During the past three years, Vancouver data analyst Jens von Bergmann has created hundreds of colourful maps that detail all sorts of Metro Vancouver complexities. Curious about where toddlers live? In December 2015, von Bergmann published a map that showed a surprising number of them reside in downtown apartment buildings. Have you ever wondered about interurban migration patterns of young professionals? Last May, von Bergmann took a detailed look at what he describes as the region’s “generational pulse”. There are also loads of maps exploring Vancouver residents’ favourite topic to fight over: real estate. Whether you’re interested in heritage buildings, bike-share programs, or street trees, there’s a chance von Bergmann has a map for you. They’re posted online via his Twitter account (@vb_jens) alongside colourful previews. He also routinely makes himself available to answer questions there and discuss the nuances of the numbers he brings to life. Most of the data is free and open to the public. At his websites, CensusMapper.ca and MountainMath.ca, von Bergmann says he has simply built a fun and accessible way to share.
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1. Arc’teryx 2033 West 4th Avenue 2. RYU Various locations 3. lululemon athletica Various locations
ENTERTAINMENT BEST STORY BEHIND A BAND’S NAME
The Vancouver bluegrass-countryrock trio of Jesse Burch, Philip Puxley, and Phil Bell like to say they didn’t get their name—Rollin’ Trainwreck— for nothin’! Burch recently told the Straight that he has a female friend who likes to party, especially after she’s had a few drinks. So one night he called her a “train wreck”. But then he corrected himself: “You’re not a train wreck,” Burch told her. “You keep moving and you keep rolling and you just keep on partying. You’re a rollin’ train wreck.” Then Burch had an epiphany, realizing this would be a great name for a band. And, yes, it could also be applied to the three musicians, whose frenetic stage presence suggests that they’re not likely to be felled by two or three Paralyzers. “If you met us, you would understand we are kind of a little bit of a rollin’ train wreck,” Burch acknowledged with a laugh. Rollin’ Trainwreck’s new album will be released this fall by MyTone Records, and on Sunday (September 24), the band will host a party at the Roxy to celebrate the release of its first single, “Already Gone”. Party on. BEST TEENAGE CELEBRITY
Justin Bieber is all grown up. But there’s a new kid on the block: Hamish Marissen-Clark.
Photos: Paul Bride, David Buzzard & Tara O’Grady
Located 45 minutes from Vancouver, along the Sea to Sky highway, the 10 minute gondola ride provides sweeping views of Howe Sound, the Coast Mountains and pristine forests. Once at the top, enjoy a thrilling suspension bridge, local cuisine in the Summit Eatery and year-round adventures.
VANCOUVER’S BEST NEW TV ACTING SENSATION
Former SFU theatre student Nikohl Boosheri has attracted hordes of devoted new admirers playing a proud, hijab-wearing lesbian artist named Adena El Amin in Freeform’s The Bold Type. Her love interest, Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), is a formerly hetero photographer working for the very glamorous Scarlet magazine, and their relationship is marred by anti-Muslim
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discrimination in the U.S. and Donald Trump’s travel ban on travellers from Muslim-majority countries. Kat and Adena’s deep connection has given birth to the hashtag #Kadena, reflecting the intense affection of their fans. On the Freeform website, the now L.A.–based Boosheri says she can identify with Adena’s feeling of being an outsider. “I hope viewers watching my portrayal of Adena take away that it’s okay to be complicated and to not fit someone else’s idea of what’s normal—and to really fight for yourself.” It’s not the first time that Boosheri— who was born in Pakistan to Iranian parents—has played a lesbian. In 2011, the long-time Vancouver resident earned rave reviews and a few awards for her starring role as Atafeh Hakimi in the indie film Circumstance, which depicted freedom-loving young Iranians partying and listening to western music in spite of laws banning these activities. BEST LAST-MINUTE GUESTS AT VANCOUVER PRIDE
Sense8 cocreator Lana Wachowski (who is trans) and cast members Toby Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Tina Desai, Brian J. Smith, and Alfonso Herrera made a surprise visit, announcing at the last minute that they would be appearing at the Davie Street Pride Party and marching in the Vancouver Pride parade. The sci-fi drama series had been cancelled, but due to a powerful campaign launched by fans, Netflix arranged for a two-hour finale to be aired next year. BEST SUPERHEROIC RESPONSE TO HOMOPHOBES FROM A STRAIGHT ALLY
the U2 show in May. But the delays kept thousands of fans outside of the building as the backup band, Mumford & Sons, entertained those inside. Good thing for security officials that this didn’t occur at the Guns N’ Roses or Metallica concerts. That could have created serious mayhem, not just lots of whining on social media. BEST PLACE TO SPOT A MOVIE STAR
Coquitlam’s Riverview Hospital was built in 1913 with the purpose of housing patients afflicted by mental illnesses. Almost 100 years later, the building—initially dubbed the Hospital for the Mind—closed its doors as a place of convalescence but opened them to the film industry. The complex’s 140 hectares have been used for Saw, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Killing, Watchmen, Supernatural, The X-Files, and Falling Skies, and according to Creative B.C.’s Julie Bernard, it’s the most filmed site in all of Canada, barring purpose-built studios. With its lush lawns and grand architecture, the exterior doubles as various high-class buildings, while the crumbling interior makes for perfect horror-flick sets. The fate of the site remains under debate—so you can expect to catch a number of high-profile actors at the former asylum in the foreseeable future. BEST CELEBRITY IN NEW WEST
Badass actor Liam Neeson was invited to eat for free at Big Star Sandwich Co. And no, he didn’t pull out a gun and start shooting up the place. BEST KICK-ASS TACKLING OF TOXIC, MISOGYNISTIC AFTER-DARK BRO CULTURE
Anyone who’s had the misfortune of partying on—or even strolling through—the Granville strip on a weekend night can attest that the environment is a lot like that of politics and Silicon Valley startups: not always kind to self-identifying women and LGBT folks. One grassroots campaign, however, is hoping to make the space a little safer for vulnerable clubgoers with its recently launched Nightlife Street Team pilot program. Stuck in an uncomfortable sitch, worried about a friend, or need someone to escort you to the closest bus stop? Look for Good Night Out Vancouver’s volunteers in their bright coral T-shirts, who are there to promote patron safety and defuse harassment. Even if you don’t need help, show some love to these brave souls by saying thanks. Word on the street is that they love high-fives.
When Arrow star Stephen Amell was inundated with homophobic comments for posting photos of him and his wife attending the Vancouver Pride parade, he responded perfectly. The Canadian actor from Toronto, who plays Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on the locally shot superhero TV series, responded by saying that if he’s in Vancouver next year, he won’t just attend the parade—he’ll march in it. “So for everyone in their negative pants: Go be on the wrong side of history on somebody else’s Facebook page,” he stated on his social media. Heck, with all the superhero series shot in Vancouver, such as Supergirl, The Flash, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Amell could round up a whole contingent of superpowered celebrities to show that in the real world, the way to show true power is to stand up to bullies, bigots, BEST UNDERGROUND MUSIC and discriminatory bad guys. VENUE
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1. Khatsahlano Medical Clinics 2685 West Broadway 2. Vital Health Various locations 3. Pacific Medical Clinic Various locations HEARING-AID CLINIC
1. Precision Hearing Clinic Various locations 2. Connect Hearing Various locations 3. Crystal Hearing Centre Various locations DANCE STUDIO
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BEST 2 EVIDENCE THAT CITY HALL CAN’T HANDLE SNOW When Vancouver’s so-called Snowmageddon left citizens slipping and sliding down sidewalks, steps, and driveways in January, residents scrambled to get their hands on buckets of free road salt. Supply failed to meet demand at local firehalls, however, resulting in Boxing Day–like queues, a few unfriendly scuffles, and the hashtags #saltgate and #saltcrisis that, for a while, left the rest of Canada scoffing at our misery. Don’t even get us started on the public-transit delays at the time—if it’s not already obvious, Vancouver functions a lot more smoothly sans snow. Janet McDonald photo.
venues, Open Studios (200–252 East 1st Avenue) lives on. A privately owned warehouse venue and gallery space—and premier rave cave—the spot is heavy on house and techno music events but also opens its doors to a number of small-capacity concerts with dedicated audiences. Offering a very different atmosphere than the Granville strip on a Saturday night, the 200-person location often fills up fast, packing the two-level concrete building with an attentive crowd. As well as music, the venue hosts hundreds of art installations and video events every year. At a time when Main Street settings are rapidly going out of business, the nearby Open Studios still manages to sell out its evenings—and gallantly refuses to hand over the building to property developers. BEST ACTIVITY TO LET IT ALL HANG LOOSE
If the crowds at Wreck Beach and enthusiasm for Mayor Gregor Robertson’s bike lanes are anything to go by, we can safely say that two of Vancouver’s favourite pastimes are stripping off, and going for a pedal. For one day each June, those things don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Asking city dwellers to get as bare as they dare, the Vancouver version of the World Naked Bike Ride sees hundreds of body-painted, nipple-tasselled, and well-endowed individuals cycle leisurely around the West End. Although there are doubtless a few schmucks who are in the saddle after losing a bet, many take to the road to promote the message that “human-powered happiness” is much more fulfilling than Vancouver’s damaging car culture. More ass, less gas, we say. BEST PLACE TO MURDER ZOMBIES
Turning around to discover a bloodied, stumbling corpse breathing down your neck is the stuff that nightmares are made of. With the rise of virtual reality, it’s a real possibility. VR is hyped as the next big thing for gaming, films, and everything from training surgeons to oil-rig workers, and the fully immersive technology is already available to purchase from your local Best Buy. While eager gamers are already donning the headsets in their living rooms, though, the average Joe would have to shell out
a few thousand dollars to get the hardware and computer necessary for it to work—which is where UNIVRS comes in. As Metro Vancouver’s first VR lounge, UNIVRS (100–8160 Park Road, Richmond) allows customers to book time on one of its consoles, and staff members guide users through understanding how to operate the controls. Games include archery, riding a loop-the-loop roller coaster, and, of course, bludgeoning zombies. BEST LOCAL CONTRIBUTOR TO ADVANCING ASIAN-CANADIAN LITERATURE
By day, Vancouver’s Jim WongChu was a postal worker. On his off-hours, he was a poet so fiercely driven to champion the careers and visibility of Asian-Canadian writers that he launched the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop in 1999, which published a newsletter that evolved into the literary journal Ricepaper magazine. Through these endeavours, WongChu fostered, promoted, or was connected to a who’s who of Asian Canadian authors and poets, including local talent such as Madeleine Thien, Wayson Choy, Denise Chong, Sky Lee, Kevin Chong, Evelyn Lau, Rita Wong, David Wong, Alan Woo, and countless more. Though Wong-Chu died on July 11 and a celebration of life was held on September 11, his legacy more than lives on—it thrives.
Beret’s Guide to the Apocalypse, Riverdale, and Snowpiercer. That’s not to mention the parade of international film stars we’ve witnessed thus far, including Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Neve Campbell (Skyscraper), Chow Yun-Fat and Aaron Kwok (Project Gutenberg), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool 2), Johnny Depp (Richard Says Goodbye), Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson (Dragged Across Concrete), Olivia Munn (The Predator), Liam Neeson (Hard Powder), Casey Affleck (Light of My Life), Sandra Oh (Meditation Park), and Steve Carrell and Diane Kruger (The Women of Marwen)—plus visits from Jackie Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Kelly Ripa, and more. And the year is not over yet. BEST SORRY EXCUSE FOR A PERFORMANCE AT A LOCAL MUSIC EVENT
When former One Direction member Liam Payne was announced as a headliner at the first-ever iHeart Radio Beach Ball at the PNE, tickets sold like hotcakes—a fact that was confirmed when, during the concert, the predominantly preteen crowd let out Earth-shattering screeches at any mention of his name. But then Payne arrived onstage, performing a grand total of six minutes and 50 seconds before bidding Vancouverites farewell. To be fair, the man has only two songs in his catalogue—neither of which is particularly appropriate for an all-ages event, by the way—but could he not have thrown in an BEST SIGNS HOLLYWOOD *NSYNC cover or something? Let’s NORTH REMAINS STRONG just hope the short-lived show isn’t Earlier this year, the California Film indicative of his solo career. Commission boasted about how a revised film-tax program has managed BEST PLACE TO HOST ONE to attract screen productions back to OF CANADA’S LARGEST the state. As a result, Vancouver-made DESTINATION MUSIC FESTIVALS TV series Timeless, Mistresses, Legion, Clearly, it’s anywhere but B.C., and Lucifer were lost to L.A. How- which, with the abrupt cancellaever, our city has continued to attract tion of the Pemberton Music Fesnumerous productions, even with tival this July and the axing of the shows moving in the opposite direc- Squamish Music Festival only a tion: the sci-fi series Colony, which is year earlier, seems to have become set in L.A., relocated here from L.A. a place where music fetes go to die. for its third season; Supergirl did the Luckily, the province has no shortsame in 2016; and The X-Files, which age of smaller-scale concerts—and moved to L.A. during its original run, a couple of newcomers—offeris back in Raincouver for its revival ing everything from electronic to season. Six and The Exorcist also country to indie that residents can came here from U.S. locations. Series enjoy during the summer season. that shot their pilot or first season in However, we’re eager to see if either the city this past year include Ghost Squam or Pemby will miraculously Wars, Hit the Road, Life Sentence, rise from the dead in 2018. You Singularity, Siren, The Crossing, The know, like Jesus. see next page Good Doctor, The Trustee, The Green
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As the old adage goes, you have to give something to get something. The Vancouver Canucks gave up, arguably, their best player when they dealt Cory Schneider for the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Now the player they picked in that spot has become the Canucks’ best player. After a long period of negotiations that scared the shit out of fans, Bo Horvat has a brand-new contract that will pay him $5.5 million a year over the next six seasons. That’s the money of an elite young centre. He’s not quite there yet, but odds are high that Horvat—who has improved in each of his three years in the league—will just keep getting better. As Luke Skywalker was to the Rebel Alliance and John Horgan is to B.C., Horvat is the Canucks’ new hope. BEST SPORTS VENUE
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The name Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium itself couldn’t be more Vancouver, as it succumbs to the commercial overlords while still trying to cling to a nostalgia that so many hold dear. But even the presence of blatant corporatization isn’t enough to sap “the Nat” of an authentic feel. It’s the only Vancouver stadium that could be defined as a neighbourhood park, one that doesn’t feel crunched into the outskirts of downtown. Although there’s no Green Monster at Nat Bailey, there are foot-long hot dogs, fireworks, sushi races, (not so) impromptu dance sessions from members of the grounds crew, and an atmosphere unlike any other offered in Vancouver, at half the price. And, hey, if you want to pay attention to the baseball, it helps that the team is once again one of the best in the league, with a championship win this year marking its fourth in the past seven years. FOOD & DRINK BEST STREET-FOOD ADVOCATE
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Most foodies think of Angus An as the celebrity chef at the helm of the high-end Maenem Thai restaurant on West 4th Avenue. But in recent years, the French Culinary Institute grad has also become the region’s king of Asian street food. It started in 2013 with the opening of Longtail Kitchen in the River Market in New Westminster, offering Southeast Asian dishes to go. Since then, he’s launched Freebird Chicken Shack in the River Market, Fat Mao Noodles in Chinatown, and, most recently, Sen Pad Thai on Granville Island. “I think there’s a huge hole in the market for fast food, but fast food doesn’t have to be junk food,” An once told the Georgia Straight. Diners at any of his streetfood outlets would undoubtedly agree. BEST PIT STOP PRE–PISCO SOURS
Persia Foods 1730 Commercial Drive A lot has changed around Commercial Drive during the past 15 years. With homes now at about the $2-million mark, Elvis Presley’s “In the Ghetto” is no longer the neighbourhood’s unofficial theme song. And thanks to
gentrification, there are 95 percent fewer needles, condoms, and squeegee punks lying around in the alleys. What hasn’t changed is that Commercial is a mecca for cheap fruits and vegetables— which explains the heavy traffic at grocery institutions like Santa Barbara, Norman’s, and Donald’s. Seemingly arriving out of nowhere to undercut them all has been Persia Foods. The place is no-frills on the décor front, right down to the fluorescent lighting and lack of anything resembling heating, but—good Lord—the prices. As every neighbourhood cocktail nerd knows, lemons (hello, pisco sour!) are often three for a buck here when they’re 69 cents each everywhere else in the city. Limes (another caipirinha, please!) have been a jaw-dropping 10 for a dollar while 50 cents apiece elsewhere on the Drive. Feel free to pick up food while you’re there, as well, with Persian specialties like pressed yogurt and fresh-delivered flatbread making excellent alcohol sponges. BEST AFFORDABLE DESSERT
Meinhardt Fine Foods wins hands down for anyone who gets an uncontrollable craving on a Friday night after a long week at work. Dessert choices include dark-chocolate mousse, panna cotta, and tiramisu, all for under five bucks. What a deal! BEST GROCERY STORE ROAST CHICKEN
For eating in, it’s a no-brainer: Urban Fare. For takeout, try a bird from IGA. You can’t go wrong with either. BEST ALCOHOL-FREE BAR AND TASTING ROOM
Vancouver seems to have more craft breweries and tasting rooms than functioning gas stations these days, but there’s one recent opening that’s attracting imbibers of a different sort. Pouring four flavours of its brewed-in-house kombucha by the glass, flight, and growler on the daily, Oddity is the city’s newest hangout for health-conscious peeps, designated drivers, and recovering alcoholics. Don’t forget to nab a slice of avocado or beet-hummus toast while you’re visiting—but only if you can afford it, millennials. Don’t you have a down payment to be saving for? BEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT VANCOUVER HAS A POKÉ ADDICTION
A bit more than a year ago, poké (a traditional Hawaiian dish of raw fish cubes) was still foreign in Vancouver and hard to find in the city. Now we’ve got more than a dozen poké spots scattered around town, including Poké Time, the Poke Guy, Pokérrito, Hooked Poke Bar, and the Pokê Shop. It isn’t rare to find people lining up outside poké restaurants during lunch and dinner rush hours, customers who are craving a bowl of perfectly marinated salmon or tuna cubes topped with seaweed salad or garlic crisps. Several other restaurants have also joined in on the fun, offering a variety of poké bowls or poké burritos. Still not convinced that Vancouverites are addicted to poké? Google “Vancouver poké” and you’ll see what we mean. see next page
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BEST 2 NEW GALLERY You’ve seen the striking, jaggedy-glass structure of the Polygon Gallery rising on the waterfront by North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay; soon, come November 18, you’ll finally be able to go inside the $15-million, 24,000-square-foot cultural facility. Vancouver is renowned as a centre for photographic and media art, and those forms finally find the home they deserve—the replacement for the old Presentation House Gallery. Designed by Patkau Architects, the structure (at 101 Carrie Cates Court) won’t just be a design marvel, windowed from floor to ceiling on three sides, with a main-floor lobby looking out on Burrard Inlet and an upper-floor gallery whose retractable glass wall gives way to a spectacular balcony. Its inaugural exhibit, N. Vancouver, features local bright lights like Jeff Wall, Greg Girard, Fred Herzog, and Althea Thauberger. The most welcome news of all? In this city where culture-consuming can be expensive, admission will be by donation. The Polygon Gallery/Ema Peter Photography photo.
Crowbar, Bows x Arrows, Earnest Ice Cream, Black Lodge, Matchstick, Prado Cafe, J J Bean… Those are just The Richmond Night Market is pretty some of the hot spots that we love near much paradise for food lovers because Fraser and Kingsway. it offers variety, value, and very good bites. It’s only open three times a week, BEST SAMOSA DEAL so you can expect it to be a little more The Vancouver and Richmond Himathan crowded when it’s in full oper- laya Restaurant outlets offer superb ation. Once you make it through the takeout potato samosas for 80 cents a gates (the lineup may take longer than pop. Why pay $2.50 to $5 for someexpected), you’ll come face to face thing inferior at grocery stores, coffee with dishes like barbecued oysters, shops, or eat-in establishments? dim sum, deep-fried squid, ice-cream buns, hurricane potatoes, and much BEST PLACE TO FIND more. Quench your thirst with drinks COOKBOOKS NOW THAT like bubble tea, mango smoothies, and BARBARA-JO’S BOOKS flavoured milk tea, among others. A TO COOKS HAS CLOSED word of warning: items range from $5 The Vancouver Public Library’s to $10, and that can add up quickly as Dunbar branch has an incredible seyou eat and drink your way through lection of cookbooks from a breaththe market (so don’t be surprised if taking array of cultures. Best of all, your wallet ends up a lot lighter than library books are free. at the start of the evening). In our opinion, the tasty street-food grub BEST PLACE TO FIND ITALIAN FOOD OUTSIDE OF LITTLE ITALY makes every cent worth it. Chinatown BEST REASON TO MOVE TO Tosi Italian Food Import Co., a dryFRASERHOOD goods store that opened in 1906, has The ’hood is a foodie nirvana (with been put up for sale, but the historic several kickass coffee joints, natch). neighbourhood is home to other Pho, roti, tacos, ramen, noodles, sushi, shops specializing in the beloved cuifried pickles, and fresh pasta: from sine. The postage-stamp-sized Pazzo bubble tea to beef jerky, you’ve got it Chow makes Italian fundamentals all. Les Faux Bourgeois, Pizza Carano, like focaccia sandwiches, pasta with Bâtard Bakery, Ba Le Deli and Bakery, house-made sauces, and hearty Nammos Estiatorio, Lion’s Den Cafe, soups, while Straight Outta Brooklyn 12 Kings Pub, Sal y Limon, Savio Volpe, see next page
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NYC Pizzeria—which is run by the brothers behind Via Tevere on Commercial Drive—serves the kind of thin-crust pie that pizzaiolos perfected centuries ago. Dalina, meanwhile, is a grocery store, deli, and café (named after the late matriarch of the Bosa family) serving everything from seasonal salads to private-label espresso.
BEST PLACE TO INTRODUCE YOUR PARENTS TO MIDDLE EASTERN TAPAS
When you’ve got parents who are, to put it mildly, unadventurous eaters, it can be tough to find a place that satisfies everyone. Happily, Jamjar, purveyor of folk Lebanese cuisine, comes to the rescue with its array of shareable small-plate tapas. From veganfriendly deep-fried cauliflower to tender chicken skewers that’ll give you pretty wicked dragon breath, Jamjar’s menu is endlessly pleasing. Fair warning, though: you will probably end up fighting over the last square of baklava.
BEST LOCAL GROUP THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN IN CULINARY CAREERS
Les Dames d’Escoffier, B.C. chapter Les Dames d’Escoffier takes its name from the late chef Auguste Escoffier, a master of classical French cuisine. Decades ago in the States, a maleonly culinary organization called Les Amis d’Escoffier formed, gaining a reputation for its multicourse dinners. In 1970s New York, 50 professional women working in food, wine, and hotels got together to increase the presence and visibility of women in the hospitality industry—and help them get the kind of training they needed to qualify as equals to men. That led to Les Dames d’Escoffier International in 1986. None other than Julia Child was a founding member. There are now 38 chapters worldwide, and the B.C. chapter is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The groups share the same original goal of providing education, support, and advice to women in the fields of food, fine beverages, and hospitality. Every year, the local chapter raises funds to give scholarships to B.C. women. The program is the most generous culinary-scholarship program for women in the country. BEST WAY TO VISIT QUEBEC CITY WITHOUT LEAVING VANCOUVER
St. Lawrence 269 Powell Street Chef J-C Poirier may be the culinary force behind the crazily popular Ask for Luigi, but his heart is in la belle province. The Quebec native recently opened one of Vancouver’s
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BEST 2 STREET ARTIST WITH A MESSAGE Artists participating in the Vancouver Mural Festival may have brightened the streets of East Van, but just one artist can lay claim to helping unite a mourning community in its struggle for more than a year. Since early 2016, Smokey D’s brightly coloured, graphic depictions of the overdose crisis have acted as powerful public-service announcements for residents of the area. The streets and alleyways of the Downtown Eastside bear important messages, harshly worded warnings, and heartfelt memorials—including one for his partner, Dawn Heather Sangster—that intend to remind residents of the area how dangerous tainted drugs can be. Amanda Siebert photo.
first French-Canadian eateries, with classics like tourtière, tartare, and tarte au sucre. The prices run higher than what you’d pay for similar dishes out east, but the place is one of the city’s hottest new restaurants. BEST REASON TO FOLLOW A CATERING COMPANY ON FACEBOOK
Tayybeh: A Celebration of Syrian Cuisine Tayybeh (pronounced “TIE-bay”) is a collective of female Syrian refugees who are sharing the food of their homeland with Vancouverites—and blowing people away while they’re at it. With their husbands and kids helping behind the scenes, the women—who hail from Aleppo, Daraa, Idlib, Homs, and other Syrian cities—offer catering
48 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
services, sell sweets at farmers’ markets, and put on pop-up dinners every month or two. Here’s how the extraordinary group came to be. With the arrival of more than 25,000 refugees in Canada in early 2016, Vancouver resident Nihal Elwan was determined to assist them in any way she could. Originally from Cairo, the Arabic-speaking Elwan is an international-development consultant who works on gender issues in the Middle East. She set out to help Syrian women who would have found it difficult to find work here because of language and cultural barriers and because they were housewives back in Syria, having never held a job or earned an income. Initially, Elwan hosted a small dinner for friends and neighbours
so people could get a sense of Syrian cuisine. She put out an open invitation to the event on Facebook. It sold out within a day. Vancouverites were not only moved by the women’s stories and eager to support their families but also wowed by the fresh, fragrant food in front of them: toothsome dishes like mutabbal, a creamy smoked-eggplant dip; muhammara, a red-pepper spread with walnuts and pomegranate molasses; makloubet bazalia, upside-down rice with aromatic slow-cooked beef and toasted nuts; lentil-and-bulgur pilaf topped with caramelized onions and parsley… The list goes on. Word has spread: the dinners continue to be announced via social media and now sell out within minutes. The evenings are as deliciously filling as they are heartwarming and inspiring.
Vancouver is celebrating its 131st birthday this year, and the Cambie Bar and Grill (300 Cambie Street)— the famous gritty pub at the edge of Gastown—has stood for 120 of those years. The establishment, which has undergone a few name changes in that time, has a storied history, including the current owner stumbling across a printing press in the basement that had been used to create counterfeit bills. Raw and cosmopolitan, the Cambie has had a number of real-estate agents inquire about its purchase, but current owner Sam Yehia refuses to sell, seeing himself as the custodian of the pub’s rowdy and time-worn aesthetic. Have a beer on us, Sam. BEST PLACE TO HAMMER TITANIC’S ROSE ABOUT WHY SHE DIDN’T MAKE ROOM ON THAT GODDAMN DOOR FOR JACK
Kate Winslet recently had some sweet things to say about Deep Cove’s famous Honey Doughnuts, but some residents are still salty over the fact that the actress’s young Rose failed to accommodate the supposed love of her life, Jack, on that makeshift raft in Titanic 20 years ago. As one agitated Twitter user put it: see next page
BEST 2 TRAVEL HOTEL—METRO VANCOUVER
1. Fairmont Pacific Rim 1038 Canada Place 2. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 900 West Georgia Street 3. Rosewood Hotel Georgia 801 West Georgia Street BOUTIQUE HOTEL— METRO VANCOUVER
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1. Scandinave Spa Whistler 8010 Mons Road, Whistler 2. Sparkling Hill Resort 888 Sparkling Place, Vernon 3. Harrison Hot Springs Resort 100 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison Hot Springs B.C. GOLF RESORT
1. Predator Ridge Resort 301 Village Centre Place, Vernon 2. Furry Creek Golf & Country Club 150 Country Club Road, Furry Creek 3. Bear Mountain Resort (tie) 1999 Country Club Way, Victoria 3. Whistler Golf Club (tie) 4001 Whistler Way, Whistler RESORT/HOTEL— VANCOUVER ISLAND
1. The Fairmont Empress 721 Government Street 2. Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre 1155 Resort Drive, Parksville 3. Wickaninnish Inn 500 Osprey Lane, Tofino
“I bet she would make room for that doughnut on the door but wouldn’t let Jack on the door.” Harbouring similar sentiments? Start camping out at Honey and, with any luck, you’ll be able to tell Winslet how you really feel in person. BEST WAY TO DO AN ICE-CREAM CRAWL IN VANCOUVER
If it’s not obvious to you that our city is still obsessed with ice cream (especially vegan and dairy-free options), then you clearly don’t have a love for this frozen treat. You can start off in Kitsilano with the newly opened La Glace ice-cream parlour, which offers creamy French-style ice cream (vegan options available). Make your way to Tangram Creamery (popular for its cookie cones), then stop by Rain or Shine—which seems to always have an endless line of customers out the door. Head over to Yaletown and try Mister— Artisan Ice Cream (known for its liquid-nitrogen ice-cream process), then Umaluma—the new dairy-free, plant-based, and organic gelato parlour in Chinatown. A stop at Earnest Ice Cream (a pioneer in making artisanal ice cream in this city) in Olympic Village is a must before you check out the tasty flavours at Rooster’s Ice Cream Bar in East Van. We suggest ordering single or kids’ scoops at each place and wearing stretchy pants.
RESORT/HOTEL—OKANAGAN
1. Sparkling Hill Resort 888 Sparkling Place, Vernon 2. Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort 1310 Water Street, Kelowna 3. Watermark Beach Resort 15 Park Place, Osoyoos RESORT/HOTEL—GULF ISLANDS
1. Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa 134 Madrona Drive, Galiano Island 2. Poets Cove Resort & Spa 9801 Spalding Road, South Pender Island 3. Hastings House Country House Hotel 160 Upper Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island RESORT/HOTEL—WHISTLER
1. Fairmont Chateau Whistler 4599 Chateau Boulevard 2. Four Seasons Resort Whistler 4591 Blackcomb Way 3. Westin Resort & Spa Whistler 4090 Whistler Way
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Nettie Wild and her team of cinematographers brought scores of sockeye salmon back to False Creek this year, but not in the way you might think. No, Wild isn’t responsible for restocking the inlet with fish; she’s the mind behind the cinematic public artwork called Uninterrupted, which tells the story of the sockeye-salmon migration in B.C.’s Adams River. Instead of projecting the mind-blowing production onto a flat surface, a keen group of technicians was able to generate the footage in such a way that it could be projected onto the underside of the bridge. The visceral piece of moving art reminds Vancouverites of how vital these fish are to our ecosystems and provides an intimate look at a creature that, unless it’s in the context of sushi, we so rarely consider. Catch Uninterrupted before the last show on Sunday (September 24). BEST WAY TO GET HIGH DURING THE HOLIDAYS
During the past Christmas season, the Vancouver park board unveiled a new addition to its holiday attractions. Called Holiday Heights at Bloedel, the event transformed the Bloedel Conservatory and its grounds into a winter destination. A key feature was a Ferris wheel on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Park conservatory, which—at 152 BEST LATE-NIGHT SPOT metres above sea level—is the highest TO AVOID WHEN YOU spot in the city. Then–park board chair HAVE A DIM SUM CRAVING Sarah Kirby-Yung noted that the HoliHong Kong’s acclaimed upscale Chi- day Heights Ferris wheel gives visitors nese restaurant Mott 32 opened its spectacular views of the city and doors in Vancouver earlier this year— mountains on the North Shore. unfortunately, inside the Trump Tower. Besides its questionable choice BEST PROGRAM TO UNVEIL of location, this eatery is probably un- MYSTERIES OF THE CITY affordable for most people. Sure, it may Doors Open Vancouver is an idea incorporate some fancy ingredients in that came out of a task force that comparison to its regular counterparts looked at ways citizens could deepen (think lobster har gow and truffle siu their sense of belonging in the city. mai with Iberico pork and soft quail Started in 2014, the free event creegg), but it averages $18 per basket, so ates access to city locations that typyou’d probably be better off getting ically aren’t open to residents during normal dim sum the next morning. If ordinary days. An example is the you do decide to venture here, be pre- National Works Yard at 701 National pared for a dramatic reduction in your Avenue, which is the engineering cash flow—but at least your taste buds facility where street signs are made, among other things. will be satisfied for the night.
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BEST 2 SPOT FOR UNSTEADY DRINKS Marpole’s Snackshot—a Hong Kong–style dessert café—opened a few months ago and has been causing a stir on social media. Most of its menu items are extremely photogenic, which means it would almost be a crime if you didn’t take a pic. One of its most photographed items is the Vitasoy red-bean bulldog, a nonalcoholic take on the Mexican bulldog drink (a margarita with a whole bottle of Corona dumped upside down in it). In order to capture this drink under the best lighting, though, you will probably be moving it around the table to find just the right angle. That’s when the problem arises: the Vitasoy bottle, being heavier than the glass, can easily tip over when moved and your entire drink can smash on the floor. The good part is that the bottle is sturdy and doesn’t break into a million pieces. Tammy Kwan photo.
Best of Vancouver
from page 49
BEST REASON TO COME TO THE DARK SIDE
Besides the cookies, of course, it’s gotta be Vancouver’s Ce Soir Noir. Founded in 2013 as a tongue-incheek alternative to the very sophisticated—and very Parisian—Dîner en Blanc, the all-black picnic has since taken on a life of its own, attracting thousands to Crab Park with the promise of good ol’ unpretentious and inclusive fun. Plus, there’s no worrying about spilling Merlot all down your crisp white T. BEST PLACE TO BUY SECONDHAND ANYTHING
Actually, the Vancouver Flea Market—in that giant red airplane hangar of a building on Terminal Avenue about halfway between Main Street and Clark Drive—has a lot of brand-new stuff for sale as well. But if you are looking for used tools, phones, mounted steer horns, giant chessboards, fine bone china, antique jewellery, vinyl records, or brass birdcages, there’s no better place to go on weekends. Hundreds of disparate venders in booths and at tables hawk their wares and, yes, haggle over prices, which is just part of the fun. The sheer variety of goods for sale—often by the same merchant (not all of them specialize)—is also much of the draw. Take Dave at Booth 72, for example: where else in town can you get old board games, gory Mexican horror-movie posters, antique books, steamer trunks, ’60s trading cards, and a huge collection of vintage magazines and comics—including near-mint copies of National Lampoon, Mystery Tales, Amazing Stories, Woman’s Weekly, and, discreetly displayed, a huge inventory of historic Playboy mags—in the same couple of square feet? BEST ILLUSTRATION THAT EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY
Dogs had their day in the summer when the Vancouver park board allowed pet owners to take their fourlegged friends onboard the Stanley Park train for free every Sunday
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from July 16 to September 4. The ride on a replica of a Canadian Pacific Railway engine carries visitors on a two-kilometre journey through the Stanley Park forest. BEST SPOT TO PRACTISE KILLING WHITE WALKERS
Game of Thrones might not be back on our screens until 2018 at the earliest, which leaves much uncertainty about the advancement of its blueeyed, undead army. Winter has finally arrived, after all. For those fantasy fiends who want the authentic taste of what it would be like to join Jon Snow’s militia before the big battle, though, Academie Duello (412 West Hastings Street) will be happy to oblige. A centre for swordplay and western martial arts (or, more accurately, for teaching Vancouverites how to slash at each other with steel, shields, and poleaxes), the studio is as good for fitness as it is for concentration and strength. The Academie offers a number of programs for all ages, including youth skills, stage combat, boot camps, mounted combat, and archery techniques—and for those who think swordplay is a male-dominated sport, the studio boasts an even split of students from both genders. BEST OUTDOOR AREA TO PLANEWATCH WHILE TAKING A BREAK FROM SHOPPING
When the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet opened next to Vancouver International Airport, it was touted to be the next major retail destination in Metro Vancouver. With designer stores carrying marked-down items, shoppers flocked to the scene. As time passed, the spouses/partners/significant others/children who accompanied the shoppers noticed that it is located in a great place to view planes that fly directly above the shopping space. Aviation lovers can see everything from jumbo jets to small prop-driven aircraft here. It’s common to see bag-carrying people suddenly look up at the sky when jet-engine sounds begin to increase in volume. If the noise gets too loud, just wear some earplugs and continue shopping. SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 51
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BEST OF VANCOUVER
Evan Clayton fuses art and style Vancouver Fashion Week star dishes on style-watching spots and vintage finds INDUSTRY EXPERTS EVAN CLAYTON
Designer Evan Clayton has made
2 a name for himself by mixing art
with fashion. For an idea of what we mean, look no further than the concept for his current autumn-winter 2017 collection, which he dubbed The Devil in Miss Jones after the 1973 erotic film. In his line, he has melded looks from 17th-century costume
with inspiration from Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s baroque sculpture The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. The idea plays out in everything from denim frock coats to a luxuriant velvet evening dress to flowy-sleeved white blousebodysuits—styles that toy with contradictions of purity and sensuality. The results have been so striking, in fact, that he was invited into a four-season partnership with Vancouver Fashion Week, where he’ll show his spring 2018 line this week,
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1. Arbutus Laser Centre 106–2025 West Broadway 2. Ideal Image 2825 Granville Street 3. Dermal Laser Centres Various locations SPA (CHAIN)
1. Spa Utopia Health and Wellness Center Various locations 2. Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Pacific Rim 1038 Canada Place 3. Sabai Thai Spa Various locations
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BEST PLACE TO STYLE-WATCH
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Aberdeen Centre 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond “It’s such a great mix of high and low fashion—a girl in a Moschino dress with a Forever 21 bag.”
PLACE TO GET A FACIAL
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1. Pacific Laser Eye Centre 1401 West Broadway, 5th floor 2. London Eye Centre Various locations 3. Lasik MD Various locations BARBERSHOP
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on Thursday (September 21) at the Chinese Cultural Centre (50 East Pender Street). The show marks the 10th season for the Blanche Macdonald Centre grad, a chance to celebrate where he’s been and get a little freer with colours and influences. “Really, the main thing for me was I just wanted to make cool clothes,” he tells the Straight over a brief break on the phone. “If I was inspired by something, I just went with it. I went through my archives and reinvented and reinterpreted.…I brought back my bombers; I like the way they look. “Colours are the big, big story— lots of primary, with red, yellow, blue, black, and white,” adds the designer, who also does a lot of custom bridal work. (See some of his showstopping wedding dresses at Davie & Chiyo.) As Clayton ref lects on marking 10 seasons, we ask him for some of the fashion faves he’s found here over the years.
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Evan Clayton’s autumn-winter collection (above and bottom left) drew on sculpture and film; look for pops of primary colour at his VFW show.
The Cobalt 917 Main Street store that’s really nice. And Rokko is great. And she’s such a nice person!” “They have the best beer and it has has a great silk selection.” BEST INSPIRATION a cool vibe and a lot of cool events.” BEST FASHION SPLURGE Wreck Beach BEST SHOW IN VANCOUVER “A great leather jacket. If I had an “Aside from the fact it’s a nude beach, Bratpack Thursdays extra 10 grand I would go and buy a I get very inspired by nature and it’s the The Junction Tom Ford one. But I don’t, so I buy most beautiful beach in Vancouver.” 1138 Davie Street vintage.” BEST FASHION BARGAIN “They’re the best drag queens in Van“H&M T-shirts. They’re $5 and they couver and they put on the best show BEST NEW BOUTIQUE make great layering basics.” in Vancouver. Three of them are Space boutique in Nordstrom 799 Robson Street walking in my show!” “They just revamped it and it’s really BEST POP-UP SHOP BEST FABRIC STORE cool. They carry very, very cool small Tripartite Atex Designer Fabrics indie designers, like Molly Goddard.” “I do it with Alex Yu and Fara Arm330 West Hastings Street strong and we change it around with BEST LOCAL FASHION BLOGGER different places. We’re now looking Rokko Sarees & Fabrics Jessica Luxe 6201 Fraser Street in the Gastown area and hope to do “I’ve been using Atex since I was at jessicaluxe.com one in late fall.” > JANET SMITH Blanche and now they have a new “Her style is really great and her hair
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Local style rises to occasion > B Y LU C Y LA U
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ancouver may not be known for its trendsetting fashions (at least athleisure wear had its time in the spotlight last year), but a set of high-profile openings, environmentally friendly launches, impressive retail renovations, and socially minded style events in the past year is helping to propel the typically laid-back city onto—and beyond—the global runway. From locally produced swimwear that puts Mother Earth first to an outerwear pop-up that benefits Holocaust education, here’s a roundup of the biggest, most forward-thinking, and wackiest style-related unveilings, moments, and debuts spotted in Vancouver in the last 12 months or so.
BEST INCENTIVE TO BRAVE AN AFTERNOON AT B.C.’S LARGEST MALL Metropolis at Metrotown is
no place for the faint of heart. (Navigating the 350-plus stores and throngs of stroller-ridden families, screeching children, and generally slow walkers on a Saturday afternoon is a task for the seasoned.) But the arrival of Muji, a cult Japanese retailer offering pareddown home, fashion, and stationery products, is making a visit to Burnaby all the more attractive. Expect even bigger crowds once Uniqlo, another Japanese name known for its versatile men’s and women’s apparel, launches at the mall in October.
BEST SHOWCASE OF TRADITIONAL FIRST NATIONS REGALIA
Although it technically took place over four days, this year’s inaugural Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week was a shining example of how fashion weeks should be done: with a balanced mix of local and international designers; an emphasis on sustainable, handcrafted apparel;
54 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
and, most importantly, a strong sense of thought, meaning, and intention woven throughout. Nearly 40 First Nations designers and models took to the runway to share works inspired by their heritage, traditions, and homelands during the four-day fete, and it was the third evening’s Red Dress show, which honoured and brought attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, that perhaps proved the most personal. BEST USE OF PLASTIC IN A BODY OF WATER We know what
you’re thinking: plastic? In our beautiful and already endangered oceans, lakes, and rivers? What in the climate-change hell could be so great about that? But it’s not disposable bottles, takeaway utensils, and six-pack rings we’re talking. Rather, the recently launched Londrë Bodywear’s recycled-plastic-fabric onepieces are making a splash in the world of eco-swimwear. Designed and made ethically in Vancouver, they look just as good layered underneath blazers and wool cardigans in the winter as they do in the water. BEST WAY TO OUTSMART VANCOUVER’S COMMERCIAL-REALESTATE MARKET It’s no secret
that much of the city’s housing remains out of reach for residents, and the same can be said of its escalating retail market. Yes, opening your own storefront does not come cheap, but a few savvy entrepreneurs are making the most of what’s affordable by setting up business in coffee shops. Case in point: faulknerandco, a men’s vintage boutique that launched within the Downtown Eastside’s Push Pull Cafe in May. Perhaps owner James Faulkner got a li’l inspo from Far Out Vintage, which operates a location in a caffeine stop of the same name in the Hastings-Sunrise ’hood.
BEST EXCUSE TO GREEN UP YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN Interest-
ed in changing your beauty routine to one that’s vegan and cruelty-free, and forgoes the use of potentially harmful toxins? Look no further than the Green Beauty Collective, a local duo of environmentally minded makeup artists who offer one-on-one makeup consultations, workshops, and an impressive selection of predominantly local skincare, cosmetic, and haircare brands that will make cleaning up your vanity a cinch. Look for the collective’s pop-up at Silk Road Tea (2066 West 4th Avenue) this Saturday (September 23).
BEST PLACE TO RE-CREATE PRETTY WOMAN’S ICONIC SHOPPING SCENE Don your chicest
overcoat-and-oversize-hat combo and press Play on Roy Orbison’s classic “Oh, Pretty Woman”: if you’ve ever dreamed of re-creating Julia Roberts’s shopping spree in Pretty Woman, Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew is the place to do it. The luxury retailer has been steadily unveiling parts of its multiphase renovation and, since last fall, has debuted a brandspanking-new men’s department, in-house restaurant, glitzy shoe hall, and expanded personal shopping area, among other additions. If you ask nicely, you may even be able to run through some of Roberts’s most memorable lines with a Holt associate: “Big mistake. Big. Huge.” BEST STYLING OF A PRELOVED WARDROBE Vancouver’s Eco Fash-
ion Week had a big year, expanding its wings to Seattle and conducting part of its 12th edition in Toronto. In addition to the environmentally minded garb and sustainability-oriented panel discussions, 2017’s event also presented a rock ’n’ roll–inspired see next page
collection crafted from 37 kilograms of secondhand threads. Designed by Project Runway Canada winner Evan Biddell and exhibited at the Museum of Vancouver in April, the collection—a luxe mix of upcycled leather, fur, denim, and suede—represented the estimated amount of textiles that the average North American discards annually. BEST MAIN STREET INVASION
Vancouver’s eclectic Main Street has long been known as one of the city’s top shopping destinations, but the recent addition of three shops is making the area all the livelier. Woo to See You’s first East Side location (3671 Main Street) offers an assortment of easy, breezy everyday womenswear; Natale (4522 Main Street) stocks artisanal goods from around the globe, including an in-house Peruvian-cotton apparel line; and the gallerylike Lion & Sun (4219 Main Street) carries a curated selection of hardto-find and handcrafted home, fashion, and lifestyle objects. BEST WAY TO STICK IT TO HOLOCAUST DENIERS When Vancou-
ver-born comedian Nathan Fielder discovered that his favourite outerwear brand, Taiga, had previously published a tribute to Holocaustdownplaying former B.C. journalist Doug Collins in one of its winter
catalogues, he did what any rational being of modest means would do: launch a competing outdoor-clothing company with a mandate of promoting the true story of the Holocaust. Dubbed Summit Ice, the line of softshell, water-resistant coats has since been spotted on the likes of Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ellie Kemper. Fielder even returned home to host the label’s first-ever pop-up shop this summer, offering free Summit Ice apparel to those who traded in old Taiga wear and presenting a cheque for US$150,000 to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre in the process. BEST NOSTALGIA-INDUCING COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO LOCAL LABELS What
do you get when you combine two of Vancouver’s most beloved brands, an empty retail space in Deep Cove, a boatload of lemons, and a ton of imagination? Why, the Lemonade Stand, of course. Dreamed up by local accessories line Herschel Supply Co., the popup shop offered a selection of summery, lemon-themed backpacks and matching cold-pressed lemon juices produced by the Juice Truck. The temporary store was made all the sweeter with confirmation that Herschel will soon be opening its first stand-alone store in Gastown. We’ll drink to that! -
BEST 2 STYLE DEPARTMENT STORE
1. Hudson’s Bay Various locations 2. Nordstrom Pacific Centre 799 Robson Street 3. Simons 1060 Park Royal South WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE (INDEPENDENT)
1. 8th & Main Various locations 2. Aritzia Various locations 3. Spank 1027 Commercial Drive
MEN’S CLOTHING STORE (INDEPENDENT)
1. Boys’Co Various locations 2. Motherland Various locations 3. 8th & Main Various locations
PLACE TO BUY JEANS
1. Dutil 303 West Cordova Street 2. Aritzia Various locations 3. Mavi Various locations EYEWEAR STORE
1. Bruce Eyewear 219 Abbott Street 2. Durant Sessions 315 West Cordova Street 3. Ollie Quinn Various locations
SHOPPING MALL
1. Park Royal Shopping Centre 2. Metropolis at Metrotown 3. Pacific Centre LOCAL DESIGNER CLOTHING STORE
1. Devil May Wear Various locations 2. Nicole Bridger 14 Water Street 3. Dish & DUER 118 West Hastings Street
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1. John Fluevog Shoes Various locations 2. gravitypope 2205 West 4th Avenue 3. Umeboshi 3638 Main Street FASHION ACCESSORY STORE
1. Blue Ruby Jewellery Various locations 2. Aritzia Various locations 3. The Latest Scoop Various locations CUSTOM JEWELLERY STORE
1. Cavalier 217 West Hastings Street 2. Era Design 1795 Venables Street 3. Sonja Picard Collection www.sonjapicard.com/ Jewish Seniors Alliance Peer Support Services is now accepting applications for its
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SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 55
BEST OF VANCOUVER
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KARIN BOHN
You may not know Karin Bohn
2 by name, but if you’ve dined at
the infinitely Instagrammable Anh and Chi, hopped on a bike at North Vancouver’s locker-room-chic Spin Society, or grabbed a smoothie to go from the industrial, greenfilled Melu Juice Bar, you definitely know her work. Owner and creative director of local firm House of Bohn—and soon-to-be speaker at this year’s IDS Vancouver— the interior designer has over a decade of experience in the realm of great spaces under her belt. Spearheading both residential and commercial projects, she’s known for her “modern eclectic” designs that blend the contemporary with the retro and the bold and unexpected, all while staying true to a structure and its surrounding area’s roots. In other words, Bohn—who’s also quite the fashionista and online figure in her own right—knows how to make a room pop. “I try to take as much inspiration as possible from different cultures and time periods,” she tells the Straight by phone. Here, Bohn shares some of her favourite designers and design-centric places in the city, including the best Ikea alternative, her picks for Vancouver’s most visually stunning restaurant space, and where she goes to find inspiration for her own work.
they do have cool things to buy that you don’t really think of right away. They’ll do everything from candles Moe’s Home Collection to barware to…summer floaties, cool Various locations ice-cube trays, and recipe books. I’ve “You’re guaranteed to walk through actually bought stuff there before beMoe’s and find something.” cause I had coffee and thought, ‘Oh, I’ll just meander around here.’ ” Flüff Design and Decor BEST LOCAL ARCHITECT 1121 William Street “Flüff is really good for condos and Gair Williamson, principal at Gair smaller spaces. They actually do a lot Williamson Architects BEST LOCAL FURNITURE of staging, but they sell a lot of their “He’s done a ton of buildings around DESIGNER furniture. So if you need some cute town, and he’s just got a really cool, Kate Duncan modern chairs for cheap—and not authentic West Coast aesthetic. He “Her stuff is really beautiful, really from Ikea—Flüff is a good place to go.” doesn’t like to overly dress his spaces, West Coast, and very Vancouver.” and he’s very good at keeping the inBEST LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER tegrity of a space.” OTHER THAN YOU Brent Comber “He’s very creative when it comes Patricia Gray, owner of Patricia BEST ANTIQUE SHOPPING Scott Landon Antiques to his woodworks and very artistic, Gray Inc. “She does very beautiful residential 105–2567 192 Street, Surrey which I love.” spaces—very clean and luxurious, “He has a ton of cool stuff—everyBEST INDEPENDENT DESIGN but also very contemporary and West thing from vintage lights to old SHOP Coast. She really focuses on quality doors to old furniture pieces, quirky Once a Tree Furniture and that translates well in her work.” signs, and dishware. And even ran750 Southwest Marine Drive dom décor objects.” “They have a really good mix of mod- Craig Stanghetta, founder and ern pieces with West Coast flair and principal at Ste Marie Art + Design BEST RESTAURANT DESIGN lots of different venders. You can find “His hospitality work is pretty amaz- Nightingale everything from lighting to bed- ing. He has a really diverse portfolio, 1017 West Hastings Street “I love how it has a light and airy feel, frames to chairs.” and he’s really great at styling.” but it’s dark and cozy at the same time.” BEST LOCAL LIGHTING DESIGNER
Matthew McCormick “His designs are very minimal, but it’s got a little bit more of an industrial edge.”
KITCHENWARE STORE
1. Ming Wo Cookware Various locations 2. Gourmet Warehouse 1340 East Hastings Street 3. Cook Culture Various locations
1. INspiration Furniture 1275 West 6th Avenue 2. Briers Home Furnishings 2025 West 4th Avenue 3. west elm 2947 Granville Street FURNITURE STORE (INDEPENDENT)
1. Moe’s Various locations 2. Inform Interiors 50 Water Street 3. Pallucci Furniture Various locations
SPECIALITY FURNITURE STORE
604.731.5512
www.arbutuslaser.com 56 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST ON-A-BUDGET HOME-ANDFURNISHINGS STORE BESIDES IKEA
BEST UNEXPECTED SPOT FOR DÉCOR
Kissa Tanto giovane cafe + eatery + market 263 East Pender Street 1038 Canada Place “It has a really retro vibe and it’s de“They rotate their products a lot, so liberately not symmetrical. I love how there are two lights on one wall, three lights on another wall; things are kind of off-centre a little bit. It almost looks as if there wasn’t a designer who did it, but it was totally designed.”
BEST 2 LIFESTYLE
CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE STORE
Suite 106-2025 West Broadway
Karin Bohn is the creative mind behind the look of various restaurants, juiceries, spin studios, and other spaces in the city. Kristin Korch photo.
1. Montauk Sofa Vancouver 228 Abbott Street 2. Inform Interiors Various locations 3. The Cross Decor & Design 1198 Homer Street
LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE
1. Home Hardware Various locations 2. Windsor Plywood Various locations 3. Kerrisdale Lumber 6191 West Boulevard ANTIQUE/REPRODUCTION FURNITURE STORE
1. Attic Treasures and Mid Century Modern 944 Commercial Drive 2. Antique Market 1324 Franklin Street 3. TWR Interiors Vancouver 2116 Main Street VINTAGE/RETRO FURNITURE STORE
1. Attic Treasures and Mid Century Modern 944 Commercial Drive 2. ReFind 4609 Main Street 3. Gild & Co. 4415 West 10th Avenue
Mott 32 1161 West Georgia Street “It’s a very layered space. As soon as you walk in, you can tell that it’s Chinese [cuisine], but it’s not kitschy.” BEST PLACE FOR INTERIORDESIGN INSPO
“Vancouver is so awesome because there are so many outdoor spaces. For me, I love anything that’s along the ocean; I love the trails in Lynn Valley. I just love Vancouver’s scenery—getting outside is really inspiring.” BEST RETAIL OR BOUTIQUE DESIGN
Saje Wellness Various locations “The stores obviously smell amazing as soon as you walk into them, and then there’s the design and the layout. They’re just really thought-out and well-put-together shops.” BEST UNDERRATED DESIGN STORE
Country Furniture 3097 Granville Street “I was in there the other day and I thought, ‘I don’t usually shop here because of the name.’ But they actually have really, really cool stuff.”
> LUCY LAU
BEST OF VANCOUVER
This year’s Best of Vancouver winner as top independent mortgage broker, Birgit Holm, recommends that borrowers make use of prepayment options.
Think mortgage rates are high? Guess again INDUSTRY EXPERTS BIRGIT HOLM
These days, mortgage broker
2 Birgit Holm finds herself tell-
ing some clients not to worry too much. Interest rates are rising, and that is generally not welcome news for homebuyers applying for a loan and homeowners with existing mortgages. Holm has been a mortgage broker for 13 years, and she understands the positive underlying reason why interest rates are going up after having stayed at historic lows for many years. “The economy is improving,” Holm told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “So I tell my clients the fact that rates are going up is a good sign.” Major banks have boosted their prime lending rates to 3.2 percent, following a move by the Bank of Canada on September 6 to raise its trendsetting rate for the second time this year. There is much speculation
that a third increase may occur before the end of 2017 because of the strong performance of the economy. “When I started, rates were in the five-percent range,” Holm recalled. “Now they’re a lot lower, and they’re creeping up again and people think, ‘Oh no. They’re so high,’ and I say, ‘No, they’re not high. It’s still really low.’ ” To those looking to purchase their first home, Holm suggests building a long-term relationship with an experienced mortgage broker to guide them through such things as paying down some debt and improving credit. Holm also shared some of her other thoughts.
WE MUST BE ON THE RIGHT PATH Thanks Georgia Straight readers for voting G Adventures Best Adventure Tour Company for the 9th year in a row. As a token of our appreciation, save $100 when you book your next G Adventure. Just quote promo code 18GA100ADV05.
604 694 6669 thecoast@gadventures.com G Adventures Travellers receive $100 off per person on guaranteed departures of select small-group tours valued over $1000 CAD. Tour must be booked by November 11, 2017 at 23:59 EST for the G Adventures’ tour portion of for travel departing before July 31, 2018. Valid for new bookings only and must quote promo code 18GA100ADV05 at time of booking. Bookings must be made by calling G Adventures, visiting the G Adventures Vancouver Concept Store or by visiting gadventures.com. This promo is only applicable to bookings made directly with G Adventures. Does not apply for Travel Agent bookings. This promotion is only open to residents of Canada. Cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or discounts and is subject to availability. Does not apply to National Geographic Journeys, Private Groups, Private Departures, FIT, G Expedition, Galapagos Sailing, Independent trips, pre- or post-tour accommodation, insurance, airfare not included in the itinerary, upgrades, add-ons, “My Own Room” or “My Own Tent,” transfers, theme packs, or other in-country or on-board services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time without prior notice. Any refunds made with respect to products booked under this promotion shall be issued at the discounted rate. G Adventures reserves the right to cancel any booking due to unauthorized, altered, ineligible, or fraudulent use of discount. G Adventures is not responsible for technical or system errors that may interfere with or otherwise prohibit the use of the promotion. All G Adventures’ tours are subject to G Adventures’ full booking conditions, found here: gadventures.com/terms-conditions-policies/
BEST WAY TO AVOID LONG-TERM TROUBLE WITH A MORTGAGE
“Have a plan. Work with an experienced mortgage broker who will help you plan for the long term— maybe set you up in a mortgage with a 30-year amortization, but pay as see page 62
BEST 2 SERVICES HOME CLEANING SERVICE
1. AspenClean 2. Sweet & Tidy 3. Life Maid Easy Home Cleaning Service PUBLIC-RELATIONS FIRM
1. Murray Paterson Marketing Group 2. Avenue PR 3. Jelly Marketing & PR
LAWYER WHEN AN ACCIDENT STRIKES
1. Warnett Hallen LLP 2. Krista Simon (Hammerberg Lawyers LLP) 3. Oleh W. Ilnyckyj (Miller Thomson) CRIMINAL LAWYER
1. Cameron Ward 2. Lewis Spencer 3. Acumen Law Corporation IMMIGRATION LAWYER
1. Catherine Sas (Sas & Ing) 2. Ryan Rosenberg (Larlee Rosenberg) 3. Daniel McLeod IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT
REAL-ESTATE AGENT
1. Nav Pal (Oakwyn Realty Ltd.) 2. Tim Neame (Royal LePage Sussex) 3. Paul Toffoli (Paul Toffoli Personal Real Estate Corporation) INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE BROKER
1. Birgit Holm (Mortgage Alliance) 2. Michelle Byman (TMG The Mortgage Group Canada) 3. Nicole Turcotte (Mortgage Alliance West)
Outdoor Lifestyle with a touch of luxury!
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
1. Randal Kurt Photography 2. Julieth Fajardo Photography 3. Ami Sanyal (Ambrosia Photography) LOCAL MOVING AND STORAGE COMPANY
1. Crown Mountain Movers 2255 Magnussen Place, North Vancouver 2. Bekins Moving & Storage 14251 Burrows Road, Richmond 3. East Van Moving 1192 East Hastings Street
1. Sophie Yan (Top Consulting Group Inc.) FUNERAL HOME 2. Fred Li (FP Immigration 1. Amherst Funeral and & Associates) Cremation Services 3. Sterling Immigration Ltd. 1209–207 West Hastings Street LAWYER/NOTARY WHEN BUY- 2. Valley View Funeral Home & Cemetery ING/SELLING REAL ESTATE 14644 72nd Avenue, Surrey 1. Jeremy Bohbot 3. Kearney Funeral Services 2. Alexander Ning Various locations 3. David Watts
info@galianoinn.com www.galianoinn.com 1-877-530-3939 SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 57
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58 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Cycling expert tells the local deal on wheels INDUSTRY EXPER TS
serviced close by is really valuable. It’s also useful for any consumers who don’t want to travel with a broken bicycle, though.”
MARK ERNSTING
Aside from being named one of
2 the 14 most influential people in
cycling by Canadian Cycling magazine, ex–pro rider Mark Ernsting has plenty to brag about. First getting into the sport after “cycling from North Van to watch the Gastown Grand Prix every year”, as he tells the Straight, Ernsting started racing competitively in his freshman year at UBC. Loving the speed, the technical difficulties, and the mental tactics, he very quickly rose through the ranks and was offered a cycling and academic scholarship in the U.S. After one season racing in Belgium, one in France, and another in the States, he became a five-time victor at the Canadian National Track Championships. Somehow finding even more space on his mantelpiece for silverware, Ernsting took home several world cups as well as medals from a number of international competitions, including the Pan Am Games. Not bad for a local boy. After a stint in the U.S. as a professor of exercise science and sports management, Ernsting felt compelled to start his own business and moved back to Vancouver in 2007. The founder and co-owner of M1—a company that deals with corporate marketing, event management, and athlete representation—Ernsting is heavily involved in the province’s cycling calendar, including taking on the role of series director for B.C. Superweek, a collection of races such as the Gastown Grand Prix, Tour de Delta, and Giro di Burnaby. Now spearheading various initiatives in and around Vancouver, including donating bikes to disadvantaged
BEST PROPHECY FOR DISC BRAKES
“These are going to become the norm. Commuter bikes have taken a lot of technology from the mountain-bike industry over the last 10 years—everything from the diameter of our seat posts to bottom brackets. Mountain bikes have been using disc brakes for many years now. They’re very well suited to a West Coast environment because under wet-weather conditions—or in mountainous areas where the brakes are heating up—disc brakes have an advantage over the more common rim brakes. They also don’t have as much wear-and-tear damage. In the long run, I think, it will change technology on how wheel manufacturers build standard bike wheels.” Former professional rider Mark Ernsting launched Our Cityride, which got Vancouver families out on their bicycles.
kids and launching the inaugural Our Cityride, which saw thousands of the city’s families hit the streets last month, Ernsting is on the frontlines of the local cycling scene—and he knows exactly which are the five best trends emerging in Vancouver. BEST BIKE FOR USE BY PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE
“Electric bikes are something that’s already a big thing in Europe, and their presence is growing in North America. In Vancouver, the terrain means that it’s in demand. A lot of people choose an electric bike because although they want to commute by cycling, they feel that, psychologically, they’re unable to
get up the city’s big hills because they’re not fit enough—even though they probably are. The electric bike does that work for them. The bike also allows older people to stay active and be able to go out on outings with their family without having to work as strenuously.” BEST PREDICTION FOR BIKESHARE PROGRAMS
“[Bike-share programs are] going to take off more and more, especially among the younger generation. Nowadays, people are taking much longer to get their driving licences, and few invest in getting a car. Those who do get their licence are using more of the car-share programs.
BEST FUTURE ADAPTATION OF AUTOMOTIVE SMART TECHNOLOGY
That model extends as well to bike “All kinds of smart technology is beshares, because they’re much cheap- ginning to be integrated into bikes. Different computers have been deer and readily accessible.” signed to show metrics from the ride, BEST SERVICE FOR OWNERS OF including a GPS, your power, your HIGH-END BIKES aerodynamics, lights flashing when “These companies [mobile bike ser- you want to turn left and right, and vices] bring parts and accessories brake lights that come on for city ridto you and fix your bike on the spot ing. There are also tracking systems without you having to take it any- for bike theft. Automotive companies where. It’s an interesting concept, are starting to put microchips into and it’s been working well for the paint, and they can scan the frame local businesses like VanCycle Mo- and find out all kinds of information bile Bicycle Shop or Velofix. A lot about it. In the future, modifications of people with high-performance like these will happen to everything bikes use the services because those from city bikes to high-performance who can afford really nice bicycles bikes. Some Vancouver riders are often don’t have too much free already using them.” > KATE WILSON time, so for them to have their bike
BEST 2 SPORTS & RECREATION STORE FOR BUYING EXERCISE/ FITNESS EQUIPMENT
1. Fitness Town Various locations 2. Sport Chek Various locations 3. MEC Various locations
USED SPORTING-GOODS STORE
1. Sports Junkies 102 West Broadway 2. Cheapskates 3644 West 16th Avenue 3. North Shore Sports Swap (tie) 1433 Pemberton Avenue 3. Play It Again Sports Surrey (tie) 15355 24th Avenue, Surrey
KAYAK/CANOE RENTAL STORE
1. Deep Cove Kayak Centre 2156 Banbury Road, North Vancouver 2. MEC Various locations 3. Ecomarine Paddlesport Centres Various locations
BIKE STORE (CHAIN)
1. Cap’s Cycle Various locations 2. MEC Various locations 3. Denman Bikes Various locations
BIKE SHOP TO GET A TUNE-UP/ REPAIR
1. Ride On Various locations 2. Bike Doctor 137 West Broadway 3. MEC Various locations
SPORTING-GOODS STORE
1. MEC Various locations 2. Sport Chek Various locations 3. Sports Junkies 102 West Broadway
NEIGHBOURHOOD/COMMUNITY SPORTS ADVENTURE CENTRE BIKE STORE 1. Richmond Olympic Oval
1. Our Community Bikes 2429 Main Street 2. Ride On Various locations 3. Reckless Bike Stores Various locations
6111 River Road, Richmond 2. Origins Parkour 2665 Main Street, 3rd floor 3. Squamish Adventure Centre 101–38551 Loggers Lane, Squamish
RUNNING CLUB
1. Running Room Various locations 2. Vancouver Running Company 1886 West 1st Avenue 3. Forerunners Various locations LOCAL CASINO
1. River Rock Casino 8811 River Road, Richmond 2. Edgewater Casino 760 Pacific Boulevard South 3. Hard Rock Casino Vancouver 2080 United Boulevard, Coquitlam
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BEST OF VANCOUVER
Early-morning hikes help clear the mind INDUSTRY INSIDERS
Wedgemount Lake Garibaldi Provincial Park St. Mark’s Summit Cypress Provincial Park “There’s Joffre Lakes for the lake view and the glaciers, Wedgemount Lake for the beautiful turquoise lake and the glacier-ripped-up walls that literally make you feel like you’re on Mars, and St. Mark’s Summit for sunsets. They’re just all so beautiful.”
JULIAN D E SCHUTTER
Two years ago, Julian DeSchut-
2 ter and Gordon Swenson decid-
ed to wake up at 4:30 in the morning every day for 21 days in a bid to pull themselves out of rigid routines. They focused on the things that truly mattered to them, which provided a muchneeded escape from their normal lives. On Day 22, the two young men decided to climb Mount Seymour to catch the sunrise—and that’s how their hiking community, Chasing Sunrise, was born. “We climbed it at 4 o’clock in the morning,” DeSchutter, cofounder of Chasing Sunrise, told the Straight in a phone interview. “It was a cool and simple experience, something that we’ve chased all around the world. And here it was, kind of right in our own backyard.” Since its inception in 2015, the hiking-and-adventuring community has grown exponentially. Its outdoor events can range from a few dozen to a few hundred participants who scale mountains together year-round. Its popular Canada Day sunrise hike this year included thousands of people across 10 Canadian cities. DeSchutter is a nature lover at heart but doesn’t claim to be a seasoned hiker. However, he has learned enough about embarking on trails the past few years to share some insight into hiking. Here are some of his insider tips for those who also love to explore Vancouver’s beautiful backyard.
BEST HIKE TO DO IN THE WINTER
St. Mark’s Summit Cypress Provincial Park “It’s amazing and it’s pretty easy to do in the winter. It offers unbeatable sunsets that overlooks the entire Howe Sound and Squamish Valley.” BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR A LONG HIKE
Julian DeSchutter is a cofounder of Chasing Sunrise, which organizes events for nature lovers. Julian DeSchutter photo.
feels almost like I’m travelling, but had people bring tacos once in a while, and it’s amazing. But my go-to I’m never really leaving my city.” is probably homemade protein balls. BEST FOODS TO EAT BEFORE A HIKE Coconut and chocolate, and they “It would be something high-calorie can just melt into one big ball and it and healthy. Generally, quinoa and would taste just as good.” chicken are probably my go-to. It’s a BEST THING ABOUT JOINING A good, healthy source of protein and a BEST ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO HIKING GROUP IN VANCOUVER bunch of carbs that keep you fuelled.” BRING ON A HIKE “For me, it always comes down to the “The big thing is to always overprepeople. It’s the stories you share; it’s BEST SNACK TO BRING ON A HIKE pare for the worst-case scenario. It’s the memories; it’s getting a chance to “That’s a tough one. Tacos. We’ve just a safety background, because the look back on what you’ve done and the people around you that you’ve done it with. That would be, hands down, my favourite thing. You just never know who you’re going to SPIN STUDIO ACUPUNCTURIST meet, and Vancouver has a ton of 1. Eastwood Cycle Sanctuary 1. Acubalance Wellness Centre really good people in there. Chasing Various locations 250–828 West 8th Avenue Sunrise is literally designed to bring 2. Ride Cycle Club 2. Yinstill Reproductive Wellness people out and get them to get to 881 Hamilton Street 3523 Main Street know each other.”
BEST 2 MIND, BODY & SOUL
BEST EXPERIENCE THAT YOU’VE HAD WITH CHASING SUNRISE
“Canada Day 2017. It was just watching so many different people from so many different backgrounds just come together and all experience and share the same thing. And we just realized how much we have in common, no matter what we look like, where we come from, where we’ve been, what we’ve been through.” BEST THING ABOUT WAKING UP AT 3 A.M.
“Getting up early [makes you notice] how much it flips the routine of everyday life. If you’re forced to get up at 3 in the morning, you have to kind of scramble what you normally do. It brings me to the place where it
3. Spin Society Cycling Studio Various locations YOGA STUDIO
1. Yyoga Various locations 2. Semperviva Yoga Various locations 3. Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Various locations
60 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST PLACES TO HIKE THAT OFFER AMAZING VIEWS
Tunnel Bluffs Sea to Sky Highway Bowen Lookout Cypress Provincial Park St. Mark’s Summit Cypress Provincial Park Mount Seymour’s first peak BEST HIKES TO DO IN THE SUMMER Mount Seymour Provincial Park Joffre Lakes “Time of day dependent, but TunJoffre Lakes Provincial Park nel Bluffs is amazing, Bowen Lookout, and St. Mark’s. Mount Seymour’s first peak is always just a go-to. It’s safe, it’s easy to get to, it’s relatively easy for any fitness level, and it overlooks beautiful FERTILITY CLINIC mountains to the east, the city, and 1. Olive Fertility Centre everything to the west.”
3. Glow Acupuncture and Wellness Center 410–1008 Homer Street
Various locations 2. Pacific Center for Reproductive Medicine Various locations 3. Genesis Fertility Centre 300–1367 West Broadway
MASSAGE THERAPIST
HERBAL CLINIC
1. Burrard Massage Therapy 406–808 Nelson Street 2. Broadway Wellness 2501 Spruce Street 3. Insync Physiotherapy Various locations
1. Finlandia Natural Pharmacy 1111 West Broadway 2. Greenleaf Acupuncture & Herb Clinic 1455–409 Granville Street 3. Alchemy & Elixir 207–2190 Fir Street
NATUROPATHIC CLINIC
ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTRE
PILATES STUDIO
1. Pacific Spirit Pilates 202–2590 Granville Street 2. Treloar Physiotherapy Pilates Studio Various locations 3. Line5 Pilates Studios 1 West Pender Street
last thing you’d want is to be stuck out there without the essentials. It’s basically: enough food for an overnight, more layers than you think you need, a flashlight, some kind of phone signalling device, and more. It’s never a big deal until it’s a big deal, in which case you definitely want the right stuff.”
“The first thing would be to do your research, know what you’re getting yourself into, and have a trip plan, a safety plan, and an emergency plan. If you’re going to start getting into longer hikes, making sure that you know what to do is always what we recommend. Keeping hikes in your comfort zone relative to what you’ve hiked before is also recommended.”
1. Acubalance Wellness Centre 1. Edgewood Health Network 250–828 West 8th Avenue 1525 West 7th Avenue 2. Vancouver Naturopathic Clinic 2. Orchard Recovery Center 1308 West 8th Avenue 811 Grafton Road, Bowen Island 3. Yinstill Reproductive Wellness 3. Jericho Counselling 3523 Main Street Various locations
BEST THING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT HIKING WITH A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE
“It’s how much people are capable of and how much people care. We’ve been pretty blown away by things like Canada Day, where people say that we can never take that many people up in a place like that because it’s going to get destroyed. [But] they see us leaving it better than we found it, so it just goes to show that people care a ton, and as long as they are given the right circumstance, they’re going to prove that.” BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE AFTER A SUCCESSFUL DAY OF HIKING
“Always a float session in the lake. Even in the winter, like a quick dip and a quick swim.”
> TAMMY KWAN
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equity to get the down payment for from page 57 the next purchase. I have clients that now have three properties that I have though it is at 25 years. If you come helped them purchase over the years into tough times, you can always go by using this technique.” back to the smaller payments. Have a budget in place. Plan to make extra BEST WAY TO PAY OFF payments annually that will go dir- A MORTGAGE ectly towards your principal. Know “Set your payments to the highest in advance what the possible penalty amount comfortable for you. Make at could be for breaking the mortgage. least two extra lump-sum payments Sometimes those ‘low rate specials’ per year. Make use of those prepayhave extra costs in the fine print, ment options. Ask your broker what such as hefty penalties. Lowest rate is the prepayment allowance is.” often not the best choice.”
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“More often than not, parents these days are helping out and gifting their kids a sizable down payment. Many of my clients have chipped away month to month, putting savings away. As equity has grown in their home, some clients have been able to tap into that
BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD TO RETAIN HOME VALUE
“Anything in the Lower Mainland. Best to ask a realtor.” BEST EMERGING VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOOD
“Near my hood in Strathcona—the East Hastings corridor.”
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www.buddhabarn.ca #insistontesting 62 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Locals learn to stretch out yoga in new ways INDUSTRY EXPERTS
involves a little bit of strength and a little bit of stretching.”
CAROLYN ANNE BUDGELL
As a long-time yoga practitioner and teacher—and a brand ambassador for Vancouver’s own Lululemon—Carolyn Anne Budgell knows a thing or two about flexing, stretching, and achieving peak Zen. Primarily a specialist in vinyasa yoga—which she translates as “flow” or “power” yoga—Budgell combines spiritual and physical components in her classes, which she teaches for global chain Semperviva Yoga. As well as offering public courses, Budgell is a teacher’s teacher, using her expertise to train international instructors in best yoga practices. Just imagine how limber those classes are. Stretching her brain as much as her body, Budgell has authored pieces for brand websites My Yoga Online (now Gaia.com) and Halfmoon Yoga, as well as taking on the role of presenter at the Wanderlust Whistler festival, a three-day retreat that offers everything from paddleboard to aerial yoga. A strong advocate for raising the profile of the practice in the community, Budgell offers a number of free workshops across the city, setting up her mat everywhere from the beaches of Kitsilano to hightraffic locations like Gastown’s streets. The star of a number of Lululemon and Mala Collective online videos, she has set the personal goal of providing access to free yoga instruction to as many people as she can. Situated at the cutting edge of the Vancouver scene, Budgell is in the perfect position to share the five best yoga trends taking hold in the city.
2
ACROYOGA
“Like the name suggests, this practice combines acrobatics with yoga positions. It’s done in partners, where someone acts as the base, and the flyer poses on top of them. Both partners work really hard. Normally, the flyer is the one with the flashier poses, but acroyoga is about celebrating that the person supporting them is just as crucial. It’s often practised outdoors, so acroyoga comes alive during the
KIDS’ YOGA OR FAMILY YOGA
“This has been coming up for a while now. People are starting to realize how much our next generation can benefit from all of what we learn in yoga or meditation, and yoga has now become incorporated into a lot of physical-education curriculums in Vancouver elementary and high schools. As well as that, a lot of yoga studios have family yoga classes once a week, and mom-andbaby yoga is becoming increasingly popular. Yoga helps kids establish a healthy pattern in the brain and the Vancouver yoga instructor Carolyn Anne Budgell has kept her eye on new developments in her field. Brittney Kwasney photo. body early on. It teaches them how summer—you’ll definitely have seen high-intensity boot camps. There’s a classes that would have a half-hour of to stay calm in stressful situations, lot of benefit to combining yoga poses intense activity, and then a half-hour how to use their body, and how to it in Vancouver’s parks this year.” with things like strength training, of yoga. Also becoming popular here stay fit and strong.” KUNDALINI YOGA > KATE WILSON so recently there’s been an uptick of are classes that make sure every pose “This variation uses less traditional yoga poses, and focuses instead on the spiritual practices designed to lead directly to enlightenment. You’ll sit and hold your arms out in a T-shape by your body for five minutes straight, for example, and that will help to raise your vibration. Right now, people are really searching for direct ways to feel complete. This isn’t a type of yoga that I practise myself, but recently the search to achieve a person’s spiritual potential has become more mainstream, and kundalini is becoming more popular.”
Grateful
MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS
“Meditation is a huge trend right now. A lot of people are realizing that their stress and anxiety levels are through the roof, and five minutes of meditation a day helps so much with that. I’ve been teaching the practice in Vancouver for seven years, and demand has skyrocketed in the last little while. There’s a lot of corporate meditation happening in offices here—today I’m going into a financial institution to do a 35-minute intro over lunch, for example. It’s something people can do on their own or with an instructor— it depends how you like to learn. But it’s easier to cheat if you’re alone.”
YOGA FUSIONS
“A lot of hybrid workouts are emerging in Vancouver, with yoga sessions blending with classes like pilates or
BEST 2 MIND, BODY & SOUL NATURAL PHARMACY
1. Finlandia Pharmacy & Natural Health Centre 1111 West Broadway 2. Pure Integrative Pharmacy Various locations 3. Kripps Pharmacy 5413 West Boulevard RUNNING RACE
1. BMO Vancouver Marathon 2. SeaWheeze Half Marathon 3. Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K GYM
1. Ron Zalko Fitness & Yoga 1807 West 1st Avenue 2. Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club Various locations 3. Innovative Fitness Various locations NUTRITIONIST
1. Rich Ralph 2. Erika Weissenborn 3. Jennifer Hill (Foodie Nutrition) PHYSIOTHERAPIST
1. InSync Physiotherapy Various locations 2. Treloar Physiotherapy Various locations 3. Focus Physio + Wellness 109 West 2nd Avenue
CHIROPRACTOR
1. The Powerhouse Chiropractic 1675 Main Street 2. Dr. Dominic Chan 205–1750 East 10th Avenue 3. Dr. Gordon Gertz 1065 Cambie Street INTEGRATED HEALTH CLINIC
1. Qi Integrated Health 1764 West 7th Avenue 2. Peakform Wellness 205–1750 East 10th Avenue 3. Yinstill Reproductive Wellness 3523 Main Street MARTIAL-ARTS STUDIO
1. Elements Academy of Martial Arts 4465 Dunbar Street 2. Purple Dragon Kitsilano 2939 West 4th Avenue 3. Academie Duello Various locations OPTOMETRIST
1. Mount Pleasant Optometry Centre 104 East Broadway 2. Vida Eyecare 800 West Broadway 3. Performance Vision Eye Care Various locations
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Expand the frame.
Expand The Frame. Films+
2 2nd
2017
September 28 to October 13
From intimate one-on-one conversations to dynamic panel discussions to live music, engage with the world's leading creators.
Discover viff.org
VIFF Amp
Buffer Festival
Be inspired by some of the world’s leading creators.
Carlton Cuse, Writer/Executive Producer, Bates Motel SEPT. 29
OCT. 9
OCT. 2 + 3
Creator Day Want to learn more about becoming a YouTube Creator or elevate your content to the next level? This full-day FREE event includes workshops and keynotes from some of this year’s Buffer featured Creators.
Music In Film Summit Find out more about the creation of music and sound design for film and TV. Take part in networking opportunities with some of the industry’s top music supervisors and enjoy music-packed showcases of BC talent.
Buffer Gala Awards Screening + Red Carpet Event Vancouver fans come see exclusive YouTube premieres from acclaimed digital creators on the big screen. Plus, meet some of your favourite YouTube creators on the red carpet.
OCT. 2, 3, 4
Totally Indie Day
Virtual Reality Day
Creator Talks
Jeremy Podeswa & Greg Middleton, Director & DOP, Game of Thrones
Immersive sonic + visual experiences featuring live music from British Columbia’s brightest rising talent. Details: goviff.org/live
Sustainable Production Forum
SEPT. 30
Ane Crabtee, Costume Designer, Handmaid’s Tale OCT. 2
OCT. 4 A FREE event focusing on the ever-changing nature of the sustainable production movement. Be part of the debate the most provocative topics and ultimately help advance sustainability in our industry.
AlphaGo
BPM (Beats Per Minute) Breathe
Greg Kohs, USA, 90 min. MON. OCT 2 TUE. OCT 3
11:00 AM 6:30 PM
Robin Campillo, France, 144 min. INTL VILLAGE 9 PLAYHOUSE
“I think it will be five to zero, or perhaps four to one,” says a confident Lee Sedol, the world’s greatest player of Go, the Chinese game of strategy, in the lead-up to his match against Google’s AlphaGo A.I. program. Because of its simple rules and near-infinite possible outcomes, Go is ideal for testing A.I. programs; Greg Kohs’ fascinating documentary follows the Google team as it prepares for the impossible—beating the champ—and reveals what could be a breakthrough in the humans vs. machines battle.
SAT. SEP 30 MON. OCT 2
3:15 PM 6:15 PM
Andy Serkis, UK, 117 min.
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
A crowd favourite at Cannes this year, Robin Campillo’s fast-paced drama positively vibrates with energy, commitment and joie de vivre. As the AIDS crisis claims more and more lives in early 1990s Paris, the AIDS activist group ACT-UP begins a heated campaign to raise awareness and disrupt the blasé middle class. “Five stars! Compellingly combines elegy, tragedy, urgency and a defiant euphoria… This film has what its title implies: a heartbeat. It is full of cinematic life.—Guardian
FRI. SEP 29
6:15 PM
VIFF Industry Exchange
Chavela
Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi, USA, 92 min. CENTRE FOR ARTS
In the kind of technically accomplished and emotionally involving role that often captures Academy Award-voters’ hearts, Andrew Garfield plays Robin Cavendish, a handsome and charming young man apparently living a blessed life—until, at 26, shortly after learning he is to become a father, he’s struck down by polio and left paralyzed, unable even to breathe without the help of machines. The directorial debut of Andy Serkis charts Robin’s spiritual recovery as he rediscovers the will to live and love.
SUN. OCT 1 THU. OCT 5 MON. OCT 9
9:30 PM 9:00 PM 2:15 PM
INTL VILLAGE 9 PLAYHOUSE SFU-GCA
A towering figure in Mexican pop and favourite of Almodóvar, Chavela Vargas was both a myth and a cypher. A singer who turned Rancheras into dark journeys of the soul, Vargas endured a hard life but each trial (including her late-in-life coming out) made her deep, coarse voice richer. Directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi use the devastatingly beautiful lyrics of Chavela’s songs to illustrate the stages of a career punctuated by heartbreak. It’s a fascinating story with a killer soundtrack to boot.
OCT. 6
OCT. 7
OCT. 5
The Expanding Frontiers in Storytelling series will transport attendees into the new mediums of VR and AR, with key insights from some of the most respected futurists in the world as well as conversations and demos from leading VR creators.
A dynamic day designed for independent content creators to gain insights from industry pros and rising new talent
A must-attend forum for executives and content creators to learn about the latest trends and join industry leaders in a discussion of the global environment and the opportunities it presents.
In the Fade
The Killing of a Sacred Deer Loveless
Fatih Akin, Germany, 95 min. SUN. OCT 1 WED. OCT 4
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey
Django
THU. SEP 28 SAT. SEP 30
FRI. SEP 29 SUN. OCT 1 FRI. OCT 13
Writer Étienne Comar (Of Gods and Men) makes a daring directorial debut by confining this look at the life of legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt (played marvellously by A Prophet’s Reda Kateb) to the soul-forging months during WWII when the musician had to make a choice: collaborate and go on a tour of Germany or face up to the facts and resist… Co-starring the great Cécile de France. “Kateb [gets] the chance to shine in… [this] handsomely made affair with one of the best scores imaginable.”—Variety
Chris Perkel. USA, 123 min. 8:45 PM 3:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE SFU-GCA
What do Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Whitney Houston, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Alicia Keys have in common? They all owe much of their success to legendary recording exec Clive Davis. Brimming with fantastic archival performance footage, Chris Perkel’s info-packed portrait traces Davis’ life from childhood to his epiphany at the Monterey Pop music festival (where Joplin blew his mind) to his tenure at the top of the music industry. What a ride it’s been!
Dave O’Leske, USA, 96 min. 6:30 PM 3:30 PM 4:00 PM
PLAYHOUSE RIO VANCITY
“Dirtbag climber: n. a person who dedicates her or his entire existence to the pursuit of climbing…” Beginning in the 1940s, Seattle’s ornery Fred Beckey, now 94, made climbing as many unscaled peaks as humanly possible his life’s goal. Hundreds of mountains and 70 years later, he gets his due with Dave O’Leske’s portrait, which offers keen insight into the climber’s life—and beautiful archival footage—while charting the successes (all those peaks) and failures (all those relationships) of a man obsessed.
Premier Sponsor
Étienne Comar, France, 117 min. FRI. SEP 29 THU. OCT 12
3:15 PM 6:00 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS SFU-GCA
Garden Store: Family Friend Jan Hrebejk, Czech Republic, 130 min. FRI. SEP 29 THU. OCT 12
9:15 PM 3:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, 1939: after the Gestapo arrest three men, a family friend provides for their wives and children, but over the years a forbidden love blossoms. An assured period piece which uses the familiar WWII backdrop as fertile soil, VIFF fave Jan Hrebejk’s latest takes root as a moving, humane drama unafraid to wrestle with the fraught tensions of love, family, and betrayal with a twinkle in its eye. “Family Friend achieves an exquisite balance between comedy and drama.” —Prague Reporter
Festival Sponsors
Box Office Regular: Adult $15 Student/Senior $13 Special Presentations: $17 Gala Screenings: $22 Ticket Packs + Passes Available
Public Supporters
Online: at viff.org
Media Partners
In-person: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, at Davie (Mon-Sat: Noon - 7pm, Sun: 2pm – 7pm) Film Infoline: 604-683-FILM
64 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
Simon Barry, Creator, Ghost Wars OCT. 10
Yorgos Lanthimos, UK, 121 min. CENTRE FOR ARTS CENTRE FOR ARTS
Fatih Akin’s (Head-On, Soul Kitchen) taut drama could not be more timely, as it deals with the resurgence of fascism plaguing the West in general and his native Germany in particular. When her Kurdish husband and young son are killed in a bomb blast triggered by neo-Nazis, Katja (a magnificent Diane Kruger) will stop at nothing to ensure the perpetrators pay for their senseless slaughter. “Kruger’s beautifully modulated performance as a woman seeking justice anchors this skilled drama.” —Variety
MON. OCT 2
9:00 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS
From the twisted mind of Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) emerges another wildly original, surreal and disturbing parable about what it means to be human. Colin Farrell plays a heart surgeon whose happy home is threatened by a teenage interloper who convinces him that he must sacrifice one of his own family—son, daughter or wife (Nicole Kidman)—or lose them all. So: who to choose? This is a ruthlessly controlled but utterly unhinged shocker that is funniest when it’s scariest, and vice versa.
Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany, 127 min. SUN. OCT 1 WED. OCT 4 MON. OCT 9
9:00 PM 3:15 PM 9:15 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Once again, modern Russia comes under the knife of master vivisectionist Andrei Zvyagintsev (Leviathan, VIFF 14). The marriage of Boris (Alexei Rozin) and Zhenya (Maryana Spivak) is in its death throes when their son Alyosha (Matvey Novikov) disappears after hearing them fight. Was he kidnapped? As Boris and Zhenya face bureaucratic lethargy and their own selfish desires, time may be running out. “An eerie thriller of hypnotic, mysterious intensity, Zvyagintsev has produced another masterpiece.”—Guardian
Meditation Park Mina Shum, Canada, 94 min. THU. SEP 28 SAT. SEP 30 WED. OCT 11
7:00 PM 12:30 PM 6:15 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE RIO
Maria (Cheng Pei Pei) has spent decades of devoted marriage dutifully excusing the prejudices and vices of her husband (Tzi Ma). But when she discovers another woman’s thong in his pocket, she embarks on some unintentionally comic sleuthing which soon introduces her to new East Vancouver communities and ultimately sets her on the course to self-discovery. Mina Shum makes an inspired return to narrative feature filmmaking with this richly detailed, emotionally rewarding and unmistakably Vancouver story.
Premier Supporters
Schedule subject to change. Visit viff.org for updates and full lineup of 300+ films and events. Major Partners
3:15 PM 9:00 PM
David Slade, Director/Executive Producer, American Gods OCT. 4
Top of the Lake: China Girl The Queen of Spain Jane Campion, Ariel Kleiman New Zealand/Australia, 360 min. SUN. OCT 1 SUN. OCT 8
10:30 AM 11:30 AM
VANCITY INTL VILLAGE 10
The scene of the crime has changed—rural New Zealand has been replaced by downtown Sydney, Australia—but all the qualities that made Jane Campion’s feminist police procedural a must-see show four years ago are here in the follow-up: Elisabeth Moss, superb, as detective Robin Griffin; an engrossing mystery; and Campion’s emotional intelligence, sharp social conscience and keen cinematic eye. “[A]s beautiful and soul-stirring as anything you’ll see on any kind of screen this year.”—IndieWire
Fernando Trueba, Spain, 128 min. WED. OCT 4 FRI. OCT 6
6:00 PM 3:45 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE
The sly Fernando Trueba (Oscar-winner for Belle Epoque) places Penelope Cruz front and centre
in this farcical comedy about a Hollywood movie shoot in 50s Spain, when Franco was at the height of his power. Cruz is beautiful, much-married superstar Macarena Granada, who gets mixed up in a leftist plot while essaying the role of Queen Isabella in a costume epic. Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes co-star. “Cruz carries the film. She has a ridiculous kind of heroism, and her disguises are hilarious!�—Guardian
Tom of Finland
Dome Karukoski, Finland/Germany/Denmark/Sweden, 116 min. SAT. SEP 30 SAT. OCT 7
9:45 PM 1:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE INTL VILLAGE 10
LGBTQ icon Tom of Finland—the artist who saw his “pornographic” drawings of well-endowed hunks go from criminal to celebrated—is the fascinating focus of director Dome Karukoski’s biopic, starring an excellent Pekka Strang. Moving from WWII through to Tom’s halcyon days and nights in the California of the 1970s and 80s, the drama “is most effective at showcasing the bountiful beauty of [Tom’s] fleshy, filthy sketches, as well as the empowered pursuit of pleasure for which they continue to stand.”—Variety
Shut Up and Say Something Melanie Wood, Canada, 82 min. WED. OCT 4 SUN. OCT 8
6:15 PM 12:30 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Internationally acclaimed spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan gives a poignant and powerful voice to those relegated to the margins: the bullied, awkward and visibly different. In this entrancing documentary, Melanie Wood reveals a bashful alchemist who creates dazzling rhetorical fireworks. With candour, Koyczan shares his momentous and deeply personal journey to finally meet his estranged father. The result is his most important poem yet, and the more intimate his words are, the more universal they become.
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 65
Expand the frame.
Expand The Frame. Films+
2 2nd
2017
September 28 to October 13
From intimate one-on-one conversations to dynamic panel discussions to live music, engage with the world's leading creators.
Discover viff.org
VIFF Amp
Buffer Festival
Be inspired by some of the world’s leading creators.
Carlton Cuse, Writer/Executive Producer, Bates Motel SEPT. 29
OCT. 9
OCT. 2 + 3
Creator Day Want to learn more about becoming a YouTube Creator or elevate your content to the next level? This full-day FREE event includes workshops and keynotes from some of this year’s Buffer featured Creators.
Music In Film Summit Find out more about the creation of music and sound design for film and TV. Take part in networking opportunities with some of the industry’s top music supervisors and enjoy music-packed showcases of BC talent.
Buffer Gala Awards Screening + Red Carpet Event Vancouver fans come see exclusive YouTube premieres from acclaimed digital creators on the big screen. Plus, meet some of your favourite YouTube creators on the red carpet.
OCT. 2, 3, 4
Totally Indie Day
Virtual Reality Day
Creator Talks
Jeremy Podeswa & Greg Middleton, Director & DOP, Game of Thrones
Immersive sonic + visual experiences featuring live music from British Columbia’s brightest rising talent. Details: goviff.org/live
Sustainable Production Forum
SEPT. 30
Ane Crabtee, Costume Designer, Handmaid’s Tale OCT. 2
OCT. 4 A FREE event focusing on the ever-changing nature of the sustainable production movement. Be part of the debate the most provocative topics and ultimately help advance sustainability in our industry.
AlphaGo
BPM (Beats Per Minute) Breathe
Greg Kohs, USA, 90 min. MON. OCT 2 TUE. OCT 3
11:00 AM 6:30 PM
Robin Campillo, France, 144 min. INTL VILLAGE 9 PLAYHOUSE
“I think it will be five to zero, or perhaps four to one,” says a confident Lee Sedol, the world’s greatest player of Go, the Chinese game of strategy, in the lead-up to his match against Google’s AlphaGo A.I. program. Because of its simple rules and near-infinite possible outcomes, Go is ideal for testing A.I. programs; Greg Kohs’ fascinating documentary follows the Google team as it prepares for the impossible—beating the champ—and reveals what could be a breakthrough in the humans vs. machines battle.
SAT. SEP 30 MON. OCT 2
3:15 PM 6:15 PM
Andy Serkis, UK, 117 min.
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
A crowd favourite at Cannes this year, Robin Campillo’s fast-paced drama positively vibrates with energy, commitment and joie de vivre. As the AIDS crisis claims more and more lives in early 1990s Paris, the AIDS activist group ACT-UP begins a heated campaign to raise awareness and disrupt the blasé middle class. “Five stars! Compellingly combines elegy, tragedy, urgency and a defiant euphoria… This film has what its title implies: a heartbeat. It is full of cinematic life.—Guardian
FRI. SEP 29
6:15 PM
VIFF Industry Exchange
Chavela
Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi, USA, 92 min. CENTRE FOR ARTS
In the kind of technically accomplished and emotionally involving role that often captures Academy Award-voters’ hearts, Andrew Garfield plays Robin Cavendish, a handsome and charming young man apparently living a blessed life—until, at 26, shortly after learning he is to become a father, he’s struck down by polio and left paralyzed, unable even to breathe without the help of machines. The directorial debut of Andy Serkis charts Robin’s spiritual recovery as he rediscovers the will to live and love.
SUN. OCT 1 THU. OCT 5 MON. OCT 9
9:30 PM 9:00 PM 2:15 PM
INTL VILLAGE 9 PLAYHOUSE SFU-GCA
A towering figure in Mexican pop and favourite of Almodóvar, Chavela Vargas was both a myth and a cypher. A singer who turned Rancheras into dark journeys of the soul, Vargas endured a hard life but each trial (including her late-in-life coming out) made her deep, coarse voice richer. Directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi use the devastatingly beautiful lyrics of Chavela’s songs to illustrate the stages of a career punctuated by heartbreak. It’s a fascinating story with a killer soundtrack to boot.
OCT. 6
OCT. 7
OCT. 5
The Expanding Frontiers in Storytelling series will transport attendees into the new mediums of VR and AR, with key insights from some of the most respected futurists in the world as well as conversations and demos from leading VR creators.
A dynamic day designed for independent content creators to gain insights from industry pros and rising new talent
A must-attend forum for executives and content creators to learn about the latest trends and join industry leaders in a discussion of the global environment and the opportunities it presents.
In the Fade
The Killing of a Sacred Deer Loveless
Fatih Akin, Germany, 95 min. SUN. OCT 1 WED. OCT 4
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey
Django
THU. SEP 28 SAT. SEP 30
FRI. SEP 29 SUN. OCT 1 FRI. OCT 13
Writer Étienne Comar (Of Gods and Men) makes a daring directorial debut by confining this look at the life of legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt (played marvellously by A Prophet’s Reda Kateb) to the soul-forging months during WWII when the musician had to make a choice: collaborate and go on a tour of Germany or face up to the facts and resist… Co-starring the great Cécile de France. “Kateb [gets] the chance to shine in… [this] handsomely made affair with one of the best scores imaginable.”—Variety
Chris Perkel. USA, 123 min. 8:45 PM 3:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE SFU-GCA
What do Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Whitney Houston, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Alicia Keys have in common? They all owe much of their success to legendary recording exec Clive Davis. Brimming with fantastic archival performance footage, Chris Perkel’s info-packed portrait traces Davis’ life from childhood to his epiphany at the Monterey Pop music festival (where Joplin blew his mind) to his tenure at the top of the music industry. What a ride it’s been!
Dave O’Leske, USA, 96 min. 6:30 PM 3:30 PM 4:00 PM
PLAYHOUSE RIO VANCITY
“Dirtbag climber: n. a person who dedicates her or his entire existence to the pursuit of climbing…” Beginning in the 1940s, Seattle’s ornery Fred Beckey, now 94, made climbing as many unscaled peaks as humanly possible his life’s goal. Hundreds of mountains and 70 years later, he gets his due with Dave O’Leske’s portrait, which offers keen insight into the climber’s life—and beautiful archival footage—while charting the successes (all those peaks) and failures (all those relationships) of a man obsessed.
Premier Sponsor
Étienne Comar, France, 117 min. FRI. SEP 29 THU. OCT 12
3:15 PM 6:00 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS SFU-GCA
Garden Store: Family Friend Jan Hrebejk, Czech Republic, 130 min. FRI. SEP 29 THU. OCT 12
9:15 PM 3:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, 1939: after the Gestapo arrest three men, a family friend provides for their wives and children, but over the years a forbidden love blossoms. An assured period piece which uses the familiar WWII backdrop as fertile soil, VIFF fave Jan Hrebejk’s latest takes root as a moving, humane drama unafraid to wrestle with the fraught tensions of love, family, and betrayal with a twinkle in its eye. “Family Friend achieves an exquisite balance between comedy and drama.” —Prague Reporter
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64 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
Simon Barry, Creator, Ghost Wars OCT. 10
Yorgos Lanthimos, UK, 121 min. CENTRE FOR ARTS CENTRE FOR ARTS
Fatih Akin’s (Head-On, Soul Kitchen) taut drama could not be more timely, as it deals with the resurgence of fascism plaguing the West in general and his native Germany in particular. When her Kurdish husband and young son are killed in a bomb blast triggered by neo-Nazis, Katja (a magnificent Diane Kruger) will stop at nothing to ensure the perpetrators pay for their senseless slaughter. “Kruger’s beautifully modulated performance as a woman seeking justice anchors this skilled drama.” —Variety
MON. OCT 2
9:00 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS
From the twisted mind of Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) emerges another wildly original, surreal and disturbing parable about what it means to be human. Colin Farrell plays a heart surgeon whose happy home is threatened by a teenage interloper who convinces him that he must sacrifice one of his own family—son, daughter or wife (Nicole Kidman)—or lose them all. So: who to choose? This is a ruthlessly controlled but utterly unhinged shocker that is funniest when it’s scariest, and vice versa.
Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany, 127 min. SUN. OCT 1 WED. OCT 4 MON. OCT 9
9:00 PM 3:15 PM 9:15 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Once again, modern Russia comes under the knife of master vivisectionist Andrei Zvyagintsev (Leviathan, VIFF 14). The marriage of Boris (Alexei Rozin) and Zhenya (Maryana Spivak) is in its death throes when their son Alyosha (Matvey Novikov) disappears after hearing them fight. Was he kidnapped? As Boris and Zhenya face bureaucratic lethargy and their own selfish desires, time may be running out. “An eerie thriller of hypnotic, mysterious intensity, Zvyagintsev has produced another masterpiece.”—Guardian
Meditation Park Mina Shum, Canada, 94 min. THU. SEP 28 SAT. SEP 30 WED. OCT 11
7:00 PM 12:30 PM 6:15 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE RIO
Maria (Cheng Pei Pei) has spent decades of devoted marriage dutifully excusing the prejudices and vices of her husband (Tzi Ma). But when she discovers another woman’s thong in his pocket, she embarks on some unintentionally comic sleuthing which soon introduces her to new East Vancouver communities and ultimately sets her on the course to self-discovery. Mina Shum makes an inspired return to narrative feature filmmaking with this richly detailed, emotionally rewarding and unmistakably Vancouver story.
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3:15 PM 9:00 PM
David Slade, Director/Executive Producer, American Gods OCT. 4
Top of the Lake: China Girl The Queen of Spain Jane Campion, Ariel Kleiman New Zealand/Australia, 360 min. SUN. OCT 1 SUN. OCT 8
10:30 AM 11:30 AM
VANCITY INTL VILLAGE 10
The scene of the crime has changed—rural New Zealand has been replaced by downtown Sydney, Australia—but all the qualities that made Jane Campion’s feminist police procedural a must-see show four years ago are here in the follow-up: Elisabeth Moss, superb, as detective Robin Griffin; an engrossing mystery; and Campion’s emotional intelligence, sharp social conscience and keen cinematic eye. “[A]s beautiful and soul-stirring as anything you’ll see on any kind of screen this year.”—IndieWire
Fernando Trueba, Spain, 128 min. WED. OCT 4 FRI. OCT 6
6:00 PM 3:45 PM
CENTRE FOR ARTS PLAYHOUSE
The sly Fernando Trueba (Oscar-winner for Belle Epoque) places Penelope Cruz front and centre
in this farcical comedy about a Hollywood movie shoot in 50s Spain, when Franco was at the height of his power. Cruz is beautiful, much-married superstar Macarena Granada, who gets mixed up in a leftist plot while essaying the role of Queen Isabella in a costume epic. Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes co-star. “Cruz carries the film. She has a ridiculous kind of heroism, and her disguises are hilarious!�—Guardian
Tom of Finland
Dome Karukoski, Finland/Germany/Denmark/Sweden, 116 min. SAT. SEP 30 SAT. OCT 7
9:45 PM 1:45 PM
PLAYHOUSE INTL VILLAGE 10
LGBTQ icon Tom of Finland—the artist who saw his “pornographic” drawings of well-endowed hunks go from criminal to celebrated—is the fascinating focus of director Dome Karukoski’s biopic, starring an excellent Pekka Strang. Moving from WWII through to Tom’s halcyon days and nights in the California of the 1970s and 80s, the drama “is most effective at showcasing the bountiful beauty of [Tom’s] fleshy, filthy sketches, as well as the empowered pursuit of pleasure for which they continue to stand.”—Variety
Shut Up and Say Something Melanie Wood, Canada, 82 min. WED. OCT 4 SUN. OCT 8
6:15 PM 12:30 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
Internationally acclaimed spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan gives a poignant and powerful voice to those relegated to the margins: the bullied, awkward and visibly different. In this entrancing documentary, Melanie Wood reveals a bashful alchemist who creates dazzling rhetorical fireworks. With candour, Koyczan shares his momentous and deeply personal journey to finally meet his estranged father. The result is his most important poem yet, and the more intimate his words are, the more universal they become.
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 65
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Vancouver is destination No. 1 for cannabis INDUSTRY EXPERTS
because they’re organic, but also be- pie of the day and ice cream, it’s really cause anyone can have them! They’re good. Great stoner food, I love it.” good, they’re effective, they’re made BEST RESTAURANT FOR POSTwith love, and you can sense it.”
DANIELLE “MIZ D” JACKSON
As cannabis continues to perme-
SESSION MUNCHIES
2 ate mainstream culture, words
like stoner and pothead are being pushed aside for classier offerings like cannasseur—and while some Vancouverites might consider themselves worthy of such a title, only a few could lay claim to a relationship with cannabis that resembles Danielle Jackson’s. Jackson, the self-proclaimed “boomer consumer” better known as Miz D, is celebrating her 40th straight year as a cannabis user this fall. The day I meet Miz D at her Deep Cove home, reggae music plays in the background as we take a seat on her sun-filled patio. As she sparks up some locally cultivated Diamond Dog, she tells the Straight that even though July 1, 2018, is not too far off, it’s hard to wrap her head around the idea of a legal cannabis market in Canada, especially after using cannabis under prohibition for so long. A lifelong Vancouverite, Miz D has operated her own luxury cannabis tourism company, DVibz, for the last 13 years. It’s a role that has allowed her to explore every little nook and cranny of the local cannabis industry, while getting to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in cannabis around the world. “I love to work with people on holiday—they’re so much more open with their minds, and their hearts, and their wallets,” she says with a laugh. “As a travelling cannabis consumer myself, I know the challenges of being able to easily access and enjoy cannabis when you’re away from home.” Since Miz D’s job is basically to curate the best of Vancouver’s cannabis culture, we knew she’d make an excellent candidate for our cannabis industry insider. Check out her picks in the interview below.
BEST CANNABIS-FRIENDLY DOCTOR
“I love Dr. Dave Hepburn from Victoria. I’ve worked with him a bit, I really love talking with him and interviewing him, because he’s so articulate and funny. He’s super knowledgeable, and of course he’s my age! Haha.” Note: Hepburn is retired but an active speaker and educator in the cannabis realm. BEST OUTDOOR SPOT TO ENJOY A TOKE
Danielle “Miz D” Jackson loves to collect work made by local glassblower Daniel Vargas. She owns several of his bongs. Amanda Siebert photo. BEST DISPENSARY
The Village Dispensary 206–1540 West 2nd Avenue “That’s easy, the Village—hands down. I send all my clients there, and I go there myself. There are a lot of really good dispensaries, but I love the Village because they have a great selection of products, they support craft industry, and the staff is really knowledgeable and really welcoming. Plus, I love that it’s a family business, like mine.” BEST LICENSED PRODUCER
Broken Coast Ladysmith, B.C. “I know several LPs, and I don’t particularly use them personally yet, but I see the value in that as well. Really, I think here in B.C., Broken Coast is one of my favourites.”
Aurora Cremona, Alberta (headquartered in Vancouver) “I really like Aurora. One of the things I love about them is how they are embracing cannabis in their corporate culture too, because cannabis has a lot to add to corporate culture.” BEST EDIBLES
Budderfly Infusions Various online retailers and dispensaries “I’ve been working in this industry for the last 13 years, and 13 years ago, there was not this plethora of products, and they certainly weren’t as easily accessible. I’m so glad that there are so many people making so many wonderful things now, so the edibles that I like for myself are Budderfly Infusions. They’re gourmet vegan chocolates, which I love
“For the last six years, I lived really close to the Plaza of Nations, and I loved to walk the seawall with my dog, Buddha. There’s a little park that’s right beside the Edgewater Casino, overlooking the Aquabus station there, and it doesn’t have a name, at least I couldn’t find it—so I just call it Joint Point, and that’s where I love to smoke pot downtown. Now that I’ve relocated to Deep Cove, I’m a homebody. I love to just be in the garden, or in my yard, or in the pool, and I love that. That’s real freedom, when you’re in a place where no one’s looking at you funny or criticizing you. It’s a kind of liberation that a lot of people don’t experience.” BEST URBAN SPOT TO SPARK UP OR VAPE
New Amsterdam Café 301 West Hastings Street “When I had a downtown office and had a business meeting with someone who I knew was another consumer, my favourite place to meet them would be the New Amsterdam Café, downstairs in the lounge. First of all, it’s quiet in the middle of the day, there’s hardly anyone in there. Second, the staff is amazing, and third, they have awesome snacks. If you haven’t tried their
Calabash Bistro 428 Carrall Street “Pretty much any food that you like is going to be enhanced by cannabis, but my favourite place to go is Calabash. The food is so good and so flavourful, and when it’s enhanced with cannabis, it’s amazing. It’s totally an experience, and it’s so community-oriented.” BEST GLASS BLOWER
Daniel Vargas Arte Vargas, www.artevargas.com/ “Hands down, Daniel Vargas. He’s originally from Mexico, and he runs the family business out of Maple Ridge.” Note: Vargas does not post his cannabis glasswork online, but his bongs are available at the Village Dispensary. BEST HEAD SHOP
Marc Emery’s Cannabis Culture 307 West Hastings Street “The place that I do frequent the most is Marc Emery’s Cannabis Culture. I love going down there because it’s the only time I ever see cats, really, haha, and I take my tours through it. I don’t buy a lot of stuff, but I do go there if I’m looking for a gift.” BEST HEMP PRODUCT
Natera Hemp Protein Powder Various locations “I love, love, love the protein powder, and I use one called Natera. I love that you can get it at places like Body Energy Club. A hemp protein shake, especially for someone like myself who doesn’t like to eat breakfast but knows the value of it, is great. I like two tablespoons of hemp protein powder, a tablespoon of hemp oil, a cup of almond milk, and, because see page 68
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2017
66 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
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would help. When people have from page 66 to champion something like that, they begin to understand the unI like things sweet, a tablespoon of ethical and preposterous point of honey—and that gives me five hours prohibition.” of really healthy good energy.”
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“One, because I’m old-school, and two, because I have a medical condition that requires immediate acute treatment, smoking is my preferred method. I like joints and I roll them with hemp filters and papers. I do also like my water bong, but I love chocolate: dark, bittersweet chocolate. It’s an amazing carrier for cannabis, and they go incredibly well together.” FAVOURITE CANNABIS ACTIVIST
“For me, because I’m basically lazy at heart—haha—walking is my favourite. I love to walk. You see so much, and you get to meet people and smile at them, and see them look shocked!” BEST PLACE TO EXPLORE WHILE BAKED
Value Village Various locations “It’s actually a ritual for me, something that I go and intentionally do, and that is to go shopping and exploring at Value Village. I go, I smoke a joint (or part of one) outside, I put my headphones and my reggae music on, and then I just go inside and take my time and see what finds me.”
“Cheryl Rose from the Hayley Rose Foundation. She found herself faced with this impossible situation with a child that’s affected by such a serious condition, and really just wanted to im- BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT/ prove that child’s quality of life, GAVE ABOUT CANNABIS and had to go to the black market “Use with intention.” > AMANDA SIEBERT in order to find something that
BEST 2 CANNABIS MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY
1. Eden Medicinal Society Various locations 2. WestCanna Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary 700 West Broadway 3. The Herb & Co. 1193 Main Street MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE FOR MEDICINAL USE OF CANNABIS
1. The Village Dispensary 206–1540 West 2nd Avenue 2. Canna Clinic 2223 Commercial Drive 3. Buddha Barn 2179 West 4th Avenue
68 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITY TO DO WITH A BUZZ
DISPENSARY WITH BEST STRAINS
1. WEEDS Glass & Gifts Various locations 2. Lotusland Cannabis Club Various locations 3. Eden Medicinal Society Various locations PIPE, BONG, AND ACCESSORY SHOP
1. Puff Various locations 2. Ignite Smoke Shop 109 West Cordova Street 3. Cottonmouth Smoke Shop 1120 Davie Street
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Beat those stress-related digestive problems INDUSTRY EXPER TS SHANNON SMITH
Self-described food nerd and dietitian Shannon Smith interned with Vancouver Coastal Health, worked for four years with Choices Markets, and is now based at Mainland Medical Clinic in Yaletown. There she offers private counselling on everything from weight loss to helping people achieve their nutritional goals. “The North American lifestyle is very prone to having stress-related digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, or uncomfortable types of bowel movements, whether it’s too frequent or not frequent enough,” Smith told the Georgia Straight by phone. As a dietitian, she works with clients to identify foods that trigger these problems and find ways to replace them with healthier alternatives. Registered dietitian Shannon Smith says that dropping a quarter of an avocado “Oftentimes, they’re finding the into a smoothie in the evening will prevent it from separating the next morning. other options and expanding their in fact, that Health Canada calls for a root but it isn’t a root vegetable. It’s food horizons,” she says. For the Straight’s Best of Vancou- laxative warnings on products that more of a rhizome, but I’m choosing it as my best root vegetable because ver issue, Smith shared some of her use sugar alcohols.” it has such potent health benefits. “bests”, which you can read below.
2 registered
BEST FRUIT
BEST WAY TO AVOID GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
“Raspberries, because they are versatile. Fruit needs to be an easy addition [to meals] so frozen is often your best option, especially as we’re going into the winter in B.C. If you’re buying fresh fruit in the winter in B.C., it’s going to be really expensive and it’s likely going to be coming from halfway around the world. If it’s grown closer to home, it’s going to have the opportunity to grow to its peak of ripeness, so it will actually retain all of those nutrients. And stirred raspberries break up so much that they really integrate into the flavour and the sweetness of whatever you’re putting them into.”
“By choosing lowly processed whole real foods, clients can start to identify what specific foods—rather than food additives—may be contributing to symptoms. For many, this can be the first step to feeling better more often. As an example, sugarfree products like gums, cough candies, and mints are often sweetened with sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol. Sugar alcohols are absorbed through pores—or small holes—through the small intestine rather than by specific transporters, as with regular sugars like glucose. This makes these sugar alcohols less efficiently absorbed and thus more BEST ROOT VEGETABLE likely to cause digestive upset. They “I don’t know if this would typically are so likely to cause digestive upset, be a root vegetable, but turmeric. It’s
BEST 2 FOOD & DRINK VEGAN-FRIENDLY
1. The Naam Restaurant 2724 West 4th Avenue 2. MeeT Various locations 3. The Acorn 3995 Main Street ALL-DAY BREAKFAST
1. Yolk’s Restaurant & Commissary Various locations 2. Bon’s Off Broadway 2451 Nanaimo Street 3. Denny’s Restaurant Various locations BRUNCH
1. Café Medina 780 Richards Street 2. Yolk’s Restaurant & Commissary Various locations 3. Jam Cafe 556 Beatty Street GROCERY STORE
1. Choices Markets Various locations 2. Urban Fare Various locations 3. Donald’s Market Various locations PRODUCE STORE
1. Kin’s Farm Market Various locations 2. Whole Foods Market Various locations 3. Donald’s Market Various locations SPECIALTY GROCERY STORE
1. Bosa Foods Various locations 2. The Gourmet Warehouse 1340 East Hastings Street 3. SPUD
ORGANIC-PRODUCE STORE
1. Whole Foods Market Various locations 2. Choices Markets Various locations 3. Organic Acres Market 3603 Main Street BREAD BAKERY
1. Terra Breads Various locations 2. Cobs Bread Various locations 3. purebread 159 West Hastings Street PASTRY BAKERY
1. Beaucoup Bakery & Café 2150 Fir Street 2. purebread 159 West Hastings Street 3. Breka Bakery & Cafe Various locations BARBECUE
1. The Yale Saloon 1300 Granville Street 2. Memphis Blues BBQ House Various locations 3. Dixie’s 337 East Hastings Street
It’s one of the most potent antiinflammatory foods that we can consume. Some digestive upset really can be attributed to low-level systemic inflammation. Turmeric is a really easy addition to so many different types of meals. You can add the fresh turmeric root—it looks like ginger—to smoothies. It’s one of the main ingredients in curries.” BEST GREEN VEGETABLE
“I would say avocado. That’s based on what’s my favourite right now. I found that smoothies through the summer have been one of the ways to eat well in a hurry. So it’s actually my midday meal because that’s the busiest time for my schedule. A quarter of an avocado in those smoothies really adds that sustenance. It increases the amount of fibre—the healthy monounsaturated fats. And it emulsifies your smoothie so if it’s actually sitting in the fridge from evening to midday, it stays mixed and it doesn’t separate and look unappealing.” BEST ADVICE FOR PEOPLE EATING IN A HURRY
“I like smoothies as one option.
Not everybody likes smoothies, of course. The other part would be to prep like a chef even if you don’t have the cooking skills. Just doing a little bit of extra cutting or making bigger batches…to reduce the amount of time that you’re putting into your meals every day.” BEST ADVICE FOR PARENTS MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR CHILDREN
“Get your kid involved as much as possible. That’s going to vary, depending on the age. But what I see really frequently is parents putting all this time into meal prep for the lunches and food coming home uneaten. So by involving the child, they have that sense of pride of what they’ve actually prepared. You’re more likely to confirm that they’re going to like what they’re going to eat because they’re choosing. So you can put out a span of different options or discuss it with them. ‘What of these three things would you like tomorrow? And can you help me with this element of it?’ Even to sixyear-olds; I’ve seen some incredible six-year-old cooks.”
> CHARLIE SMITH
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70 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Former dish pigs share lessons from the pit > BY GA IL JOHNSON
O
h, the glory of being a chef: the access to fine ingredients, the creativity, the ability to make people swoon… Then there is all the hard work involved. Those who dedicate their nights and days to leading a kitchen have a long road of learning behind them. For many cooks, their initial exposure to the food industry is not at a restaurant’s prep station but in the dish pit—the slimy, sloppy, chaotic, noisy, slippery dish pit. Many of Metro Vancouver’s best chefs started out as “dish pigs”—and lived to tell the tale. Read on to hear about a few local talents’ intro to restaurant work and what it’s really like in the back while you’re sitting down for a freshly cooked meal.
JERICHO GARCIA, WILD RICE (810
Quayside Drive, New Westminster) Garcia washed dishes at Earls Bridge Park in 2012 while going to BCIT. Best part of the job: “I started dishwashing when I was 20. I didn’t really know what to do with my future. I had no goals. That is where I started to fall in love with what I do. I was so eager to jump on line. I observed all the tools I washed and learned how to use them. When they [the waiters] sent back the bowls, I would smell the marinades and the sauces, trying to figure out the ingredients. When I got home I’d try to re-create those recipes with only the guidance of my sense of smell. I found my purpose in life.” Worst part of the job: “Going home. I remember catching the last SkyTrain or, even worse, night buses late at night with wet socks, or wet pants if I forgot to bring extra. And the thing that dishwashers hate the most is when the servers won’t sort out the dishes—like, bowls on top of plates when they all know they should stack them; pieces of food left on the plate that should have been discarded.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “It’s grunt work, I know, but we all gotta start somewhere. That decision changed my life. It transformed a 20-year-old Filipino immigrant with no plans and no money into the kind of fine chef I keep trying to be every day.”
FAIZAL KASSAM, TERROIR KITCHEN (2232 Marine Drive, West Van-
couver) Kassam washed dishes at La Régalade (the same spot where his own resto now sits) in 2003. He applied for the job because he was fascinated by restaurants and French cuisine. Best part of the job: “I knew that I wanted to go into classic French cuisine after about two days.
Vancouver chefs who started as dishwashers include (clockwise from left) the Dirty Apron’s David Robertson (Kevin Frederick Clark photo), Notch8’s William Lew, Jeff Koop of Mamie Taylor’s, and Wild Rice’s Jericho Garcia.
Once I was comfortable with the responsibilities and fully oriented, I was able to witness the inner dynamics of a fast-paced, busy kitchen. We would all sit down for a staff meal at the end of the night. It was my first taste of French food, and boy, was it good. The actual act of hand-washing dishes is very Zen-like for me. I felt at ease and at peace when working with hot, soapy water.” Worst part of the job: “The smell after you were done your shift; witnessing the amount of food being thrown out (back then, there was no organic recycling program); and taking out the trash. Also, I wasn’t very dry often. Wet shoes, shirt, and pants are usually quite uncomfortable to work in.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “Treat your dishwashers fairly. It’s a dirty job that almost nobody wants to do. If you respect your dishwashers, your dishes will be clean.” JEFF KOOP, MAMIE TAYLOR’S
(251 East Georgia Street) Koop washed dishes at Earls in White Rock in 2004. He was into skateboarding at the time, and one day his parents decided to stop paying for all of the skateboard decks and shoes he kept destroying. That was when he decided it was time to get a job. Best part of the job: “Sometimes the cooks would give me free food. They weren’t supposed to, but they would
anyways. That’s the only highlight I can think of.” Worst part of the job: “Taking out the garbage. You had to haul all the garbage and broken glass on a trolley to a giant trash compactor a block away at 1:30 a.m. The cooks would always overstuff the garbage bags so they’d rip when you tried to throw them in, and garbage would spill everywhere. Then you had to go back to the restaurant for cleaning supplies. It sucked.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “The job taught me how to work quickly and efficiently, how to be organized and thorough, and how to be a team player. Being a teenager working alongside very good-looking servers even taught me how to talk to women who are completely out of my league. It’s always difficult to start at the bottom of any hierarchy. It requires humility, patience, and tolerance. Those are exactly the qualities that have best served me in my career.” WILLIAM LEW, NOTCH8 RESTAURANT AND BAR (Fairmont Hotel
Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street) Lew washed dishes at Glowbal in 2005. Wearing his best suit, the UBC animal-biology student went in to simply drop off his résumé, and the chef asked if he could start right then and there. He enjoyed it so much he didn’t even realize that his shift had ended at 4 a.m. Best part of the job: “From the
dish pit, we had a clear and audible perspective toward the open kitchen, and I remember watching the cooks, so inspired and in awe of what they could create and all the pressure and responsibility they carried. It was the most inspiring, motivating, and exciting environment I had ever experienced. That one evening changed the course of my professional and creative life forever.” Worst part of the job: “Nothing. I washed dishes for two years while finishing my university degree. I grew stronger as a person, gained confidence, and figured out that adaptability was a key to being successful.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “It taught me the value of hard work and what you can accomplish through putting in full, passionate effort to pursue and achieve a dream. It taught me patience, tolerance, and resilience.” DAVID
MUELLER,
BAUHAUS
(1 West Cordova Street) Mueller washed dishes at Joey in Kelowna in 2006, starting during the winter break in his first year of engineering at UBC Okanagan. A friend, who was a server, said he would help Mueller get a job in the kitchen so he could save some money for the upcoming semester. Mueller did not know it was going to be a dishwashing position. Best part of the job: “I can’t elaborate on what the best thing about being a dishwasher was
but rather the industry in general. My favourite things are the people I’ve met. I met my wife in the industry; I’ve met great friends in the industry. There is a certain level of camaraderie and respect that makes this industry special.” Worst part of the job: “The disorganization of the plates and equipment when servers, bussers, managers, and cooks brought them to the dish area. I like to keep my work environment clean and organized.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “Being a dishwasher taught me that when starting at the bottom, hard work and dedication to the task at hand can lead to upward movement within the kitchen. I was only a dishwasher for two days before the chef asked me if I would like to learn the salad station. When it’s needed, I like to go back into the dish area and help out my dishwashers. I help them reorganize the clutter and get caught up. I find this goes a long way to boost their morale. I also like to promote my dishwashers to the line when they show that they have motivation to learn, because I would not be where I am today if the chef at Joey hadn’t done the same for me.” DAVID ROBERTSON, THE DIRTY APRON (540 Beatty Street) Robert-
son washed dishes at Red Robin on Marine Drive in North Vancouver in 1989. He was in high school, and his parents told him it was time for him to start making some money and began charging him rent. Best part of the job: “I loved all the moving parts of the kitchen, the camaraderie, how it was so fast-paced, and how you got staff meals. I always liked the energy of the restaurant business, the access to fine ingredients. I’d see how long I could keep my surface area clean. I made it a game. The servers loved you for that.” Worst part of the job: “How your hands got all wrinkly and how you’d smell like detergent. I didn’t like the tip structure. You got the least amount of money but had the dirtiest job.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “It taught me organization and cleanliness and structure. I never take it for granted; the dishwasher is just as important as the chef. We all work together. Tell people to tip the dishwasher or buy the dishwasher a beer.”
ALESSANDRO VIANELLO, GOOSENECK HOSPITALITY (various loca-
tions) Vianello—who’s the development chef for Wildebeest, Bufala, Lucky Taco, and the forthcoming Bells and Whistles—washed dishes at White Spot on Lonsdale in North Vancouver in 2000. Having wanted see page 73
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Clockwise from left: David Mueller of Bauhaus, Gooseneck Hospitality’s Alessandro Vianello, and Terroir Kitchen’s Faizal Kassam (Tobin Smith photo).
Former dish pigs
from page 71
to be a chef since he was four, he saw it as a chance to get his foot in the door. Best part of the job: “I didn’t enjoy the job all that much, to be honest. Looking back, I think the best part was not having to talk too much during service; everyone
else in the kitchen would just leave me alone and let me get on with it.” Worst part of the job: “Being wet all the time.” Life lessons from the dish pit: “Working as a dishwasher taught me a few very important skills, including organization, discipline, efficiency, and how to be quiet in a kitchen. I think all the best chefs start out as dishwashers.” -
BEST 2 FOOD & DRINK NEW RESTAURANT
FINE-DINING RESTAURANT
RESTAURANT (INDEPENDENT)
RESTAURANT PATIO
RESTAURANT (CHAIN)
KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
BISTRO
1. Botanist 1038 Canada Place 2. St. Lawrence 269 Powell Street 3. The Arbour 3941 Main Street
1. Chambar Restaurant 568 Beatty Street 2. Savio Volpe 615 Kingsway 3. Ask for Luigi 305 Alexander Street 1. Cactus Club Cafe Various locations 2. Earls Kitchen + Bar Various locations 3. White Spot Various locations
1. Seasons in the Park Queen Elizabeth Park (West 33rd Avenue and Cambie Street) 2. Le Crocodile 100–909 Burrard Street 3. Nightingale 1017 West Hastings Street
1. Bishop’s 2183 West 4th Avenue 2. Hawksworth Restaurant 801 West Georgia Street 3. Chambar Restaurant 568 Beatty Street 1. Tap & Barrel Various locations 2. Cactus Club Cafe Various locations 3. Homer St. Cafe and Bar 898 Homer Street
1. White Spot Various locations 2. Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. Various locations 3. McDonald’s Various locations 1. Tableau Bar Bistro 1181 Melville Street 2. Les Faux Bourgeois 663 East 15th Avenue 3. Edible Canada 1596 Johnston Street, Granville Island
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BEST OF VANCOUVER
Korean food takes its place at the table > B Y TA MM Y KWAN
P
eople in Vancouver are lucky to have such easy access to so many Asian restaurants around town, especially Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indian ones. Our city’s palate has evolved and progressed, and it seems like these days we can’t live without Thai-style noodles or Malaysian chicken rice or Taiwanese soup dumplings. There is one specific Asian cuisine that was once overshadowed by its more popular counterparts, but it is slowly and steadily establishing its presence in Metro Vancouver. Twenty years ago, you could probably count on one hand all the Korean restaurants that existed in the city. It didn’t help that the Korean population in Vancouver was minimal. Thanks to an influx of South Korean immigrants and international students, as well as the rise of South Korean pop culture (oppan gangnam–style) around the world, there is now an abundance of Korean food establishments scattered across the Lower Mainland. Jang Mo Jib Korean Restaurant (various locations) opened the doors to its first storefront on Kingsway in 1995, which made it one of the initial specialty Korean dining spots in the city. Elliot Moon, managing partner at the family-run business, emphasizes that there were limited Korean food choices in Vancouver back then. “As a family, we really enjoyed going out to eat,” Moon told the Straight in an interview at a Robson Street coffee shop. “We travelled and we ate at Korean restaurants in other cities and locally as well, and found that we weren’t quite satisfied with what was available here [in Vancouver].” Moon’s mother has a background in Korean cuisine, so they took it upon themselves to open a traditional Korean dining establishment after purchasing the rights to the business name—which means “mother-in-law”—from a Korean restaurant called Jang mo jib in Orange County, California. The dishes that they claim to have made famous in Vancouver include gamjatang (pork bone stew), soondubu jjigae (spicy soft-tofu stew), and haemul pajeon (seafood pancake). “We helped establish quite a few of the most popular Korean food items at our restaurant, and now in Vancouver,” said Moon. “There was no gamjatang in Vancouver before we began to offer it. No places would do tofu soup at the time in the city.”
Ta Bom Korean Cuisine says it was the first to introduce this style of hot plate to Metro Vancouver. Tammy Kwan photo.
Besides the first generation of Korean restaurants in Vancouver (including Royal Seoul House Korean Restaurant, which was established in 1990), new and trendy Korean food places (such as Sura Korean Royal Cuisine, Midam Café & Bistro, and Damso Restaurant) that have opened in recent years are also catching the
attention of the younger population. Ta Bom Korean Cuisine (1046 Austin Avenue) in Coquitlam is a dining hot spot that opened in June 2016. It may be located in the suburbs, but that doesn’t stop city dwellers from visiting and ordering its most popular dish: a hot plate that features your choice of marinated
meats or seafood, such as dak-galbi (stir-fried spicy chicken), jeyukbokkeum (stir-fried spicy pork), or jukkumi-bokkeum (stir-fried spicy small octopus). Each hot plate is accompanied by sides like egg, cheese, and corn, which are used as dips for the meats—think sizzling pieces of chicken covered in molten
BEST 2 FOOD & DRINK CULINARY SCHOOL
1. Vancouver Community College 250 West Pender Street 2. Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts 101–1505 West 2nd Avenue 3. LaSalle College Vancouver 2665 Renfrew Street
COFFEE SHOP (INDEPENDENT)
1. Revolver Coffee 325 Cambie Street 2. Railtown Cafe Various locations 3. Elysian Coffee Roasters Various locations
COFFEE SHOP (LOCAL CHAIN) PLACE FOR CASUAL COOKING CLASSES
1. The Dirty Apron Cooking School & Delicatessen 540 Beatty Street 2. Well Seasoned 117–20353 64 Avenue, Langley 3. The Gourmet Warehouse 1340 East Hastings Street
1. JJ Bean 2. Blenz 3. Bean Around the World FOOD TRUCK
1. Tacofino 2. Mom’s Grilled Cheese 3. Japadog BUTCHER
JUICE BAR
1. The Juice Truck Various locations 2. Glory Juice Co. Various locations 3. Jugo Juice Various locations
1. Market Meats 2326 West 4th Avenue 2. Windsor Quality Meats 4110 Main Street 3. Jackson’s Meat + Deli 2214 West 4th Avenue SEAFOOD STORE
1. Granville Island Market 1. Secret Garden Tea Company 1669 Johnston Street, 2138 West 40th Avenue Granville Island 2. DAVIDsTEA 2. Daily Catch Seafood Company Various locations Various locations 3. Neverland Tea Salon 3. 7 Seas 3066 West Broadway Various locations TEAHOUSE
74 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
SPECIALTY CHEESE STORE
1. Les Amis du Fromage Various locations 2. Benton Brothers Fine Cheese Various locations 3. La Grotta del Formaggio 1791 Commercial Drive GELATO
1. Bella Gelateria Various locations 2. Amato Gelato Cafe/Mario’s Gelati 78 East 1st Avenue 3. Casa Gelato 1033 Venables Street FROZEN YOGURT
1. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Various locations 2. Qoola Frozen Yogurt Bar Various locations 3. Yogen Früz Various locations ICE CREAM
1. Earnest Ice Cream Various locations 2. Rain or Shine Homemade Ice Cream Various locations 3. Rooster’s Ice Cream Bar 1039 East Broadway
cheese and sweet corn…delicious. Owner Minji Won and her mother run the restaurant together and have plans to expand to a second location in downtown Vancouver later this year. “This is a family business, and my mother was actually a chef in Korea for over 30 years,” Won explained to the Straight in a phone interview. “When she came here, she worked at a Korean restaurant, and we opened [Ta Bom] last year.” The mother-daughter duo decided to open an eatery in Coquitlam because there is a large Korean community there. It may make sense to conclude that the majority of their customers are of Korean heritage, but that’s not the case. “Most of our customers are not Korean. They are Chinese, westerners, and people from other cultures and backgrounds,” explained Won. It’s the same at Jang Mo Jib: Moon stressed that the customers who dine at his restaurants are Chinese, Japanese, or Westerners. Koreans do visit, but a large portion of his targeted demographic is other ethnicities. Even if the local Korean population doesn’t frequent Korean eateries, it’s obvious that this culture’s restaurant scene in Vancouver has grown exponentially. Those who do enjoy Korean food will be familiar with the staple dishes such as japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), bulgogi (marinated and grilled meats), and bibimbap (hot-stone rice bowl with various toppings), among others. But less traditional culinary creations such as Korean hot-plate dishes and fried chicken (best paired with alcoholic drinks such as beer or soju, distilled rice liquor) are helping the city’s Korean kitchens gain popularity, because they appeal to younger customers and are more accessible to non-Korean guests. “Fifteen years ago, Korean restaurants served very traditional Korean foods,” said Won. “They weren’t really chefs, just Korean immigrants who needed to survive, so they opened a restaurant. The food they made didn’t taste really good.” Those times have passed, and now there are plenty of trained Korean chefs who are skilled and experienced in the kitchen—and who aren’t afraid to add a bit of modern flair to their creations. “There’s no question that the Korean restaurant scene in Vancouver has obviously improved,” said Moon. “It has grown, developed, and matured. In my opinion, we’re heading in the right direction—but there’s still a lot more room for growth.” -
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Drinks to fall for as the seasons change A collection of Vancouver’s best bartenders share their fave autumn cocktails and places to hang when they aren’t pouring
Monsoon cocktail with Bulleit bourbon, and the Botanist for their Pretty Bird cocktail with Tanqueray No. Ten Gin.
> B Y M IKE USING E R
A
fter one of the most gorgeous Vancouver summers on record, a West Coast fall is right on the horizon. Goodbye, patios and Pisco Sours; hello, roaring fires and a smoky 30th Century Man or three. In anticipation of the crisp weather ahead, we asked some of the best bartenders in the city for their top fall-cocktail recommendations, along with great places to imbibe when the line is out the door at the places where they work their magic. Now take off those shorts and get looking for that umbrella.
TREVOR KALLIES, DONNELLY GROUP Trevor Kallies is the beverage
director for Donnelly Group. When he’s not developing menus and training staff, he also serves as the president of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association and helps manage the Tales of the Cocktail CAP (Cocktail Apprentice Program) team. Best fall cocktail: “When fall/autumn hits I typically turn my pre-order of a Negroni into a rum old-fashioned. This is typically my go-to while I look at the menu to see if there’s a house cocktail that catches my eye.” Best bar besides yours: “Alibi Room and Brassneck Brewery take a lot of my beer money, but if we’re talking cocktails, I’d say Keefer Bar is my local favourite.”
AMBER BRUCE, THE KEEFER BAR (135 Keefer Street) Recently
named Giffard’s Iron Mixologist 2017, Amber Bruce manages the magnificently innovative Keefer Bar, where certain Straight staffers spend so much time they now have their own designated barstools. Best fall cocktail: “Around this time of year I’m usually reaching for something with a little age and a bright soul. Cognac and rye are a couple of my autumn faves. To help you through the equinox, this version of the Quaker cocktail is perfect: rye, cognac, fresh raspberries, and lemon. Thanks, Simon Aukett, for introducing that one to me!” Best bar besides yours: “You will most likely find me at the Diamond sipping on tequila while making fun of the bartenders. Either that or the good ol’ Fairview Pub for some beers and Big Buck Hunter.”
BRAD STANTON, PROHIBITION
When things start getting cold, the Keefer Bar’s Amber Bruce reaches for a drink with a bit of age. Amanda Siebert photo.
Kelowna, self-described mad extrovert Max Borrowman has worked his way up the ranks in Lotusland to become head bartender at the forwardthinking and much-loved Juniper in Chinatown. Best fall cocktail: “My fall drink is the Forester—sorrelinfused gin (we use Tanqueray No. Ten), Cocchi Americano, fino sherry, fir-tip-infused Ketel One vodka, and green Chartreuse, garnished with a juniper sprig.” Best bar besides yours: “My favourite place to unwind would be Grapes & Soda—by MAX BORROWMAN, JUNIPER far my favourite bar in Vancouver. (185 Keefer Street) Since first step- Great cocktails, good biodynamic ping behind the bar at an Earls in wine list, excellent food as well. And
the staff is always friendly. I would also add that I just had my wedding reception there, too, and they did a fantastic job.” LAUREN MOTE, BITTERED SLING BITTERS Award-winning bartend-
er Lauren Mote wears many hats, but she’s perhaps best known as the Diageo Reserve & World Class Global Cocktailian, and the coproprietor of Bittered Sling Bitters—an internationally successful portfolio of award-winning cocktail bitters and culinary extracts. Best fall cocktail: “I love to drink autumnal flavours—fall is one of my favour-
ite times of year. The cocktail that I’m drinking now, being a longstanding fan of Islay whiskies, is the Peater Rabbit, with Johnnie Walker Black Label, Lagavulin 16-year-old, sweet vermouth, German herbal liqueur, and Bittered Sling Cascade Celery bitters. It’s a deep-contemplation, chin-in-the-hand ‘thinker’ of a cocktail.” Best bar besides yours: “I’ve always been a fan of hotel bars—from meetings to hangouts, special events and service standards, there’s something about luxury hotel visits that are so special. My favourites are Yew seafood + bar for the Ceylonese
(801 West Georgia Street) The lucky among us get to do jobs that never feel like work. Count Prohibition’s Brad Stanton in those ranks—in his own words, “I revel in the opportunity to engage with guests and provide refined service from behind my dream bar that I helped to build, Prohibition at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.” Best fall cocktail: “Nothing says ‘winter is coming’ more than ordering a Sazerac cocktail at my bar. You won’t be disappointed, I guarantee! We use Sazerac 6Yr Old rye and my recipe won the coveted Seal of the Sazerac at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, so it’s legit.” Best bar besides yours: “Mamie Taylor’s in Chinatown, where I can pull up a barstool and chat up my old sailing buddy Simon and have a see next page
1ST BEST
BRUNCH
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 75
Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar’s Sabrine Dhaliwal is a big fan of the Fallen Angel with Cutty Sark Prohibition whisky, lemon juice, and falernum. Allison Kuhl photo.
Drinks to fall for
from previous page
bite and a tasty local beer. Okay, and maybe a nip of bourbon or two…” SABRINE DHALIWAL, UVA WINE & COCKTAIL BAR (900 Seymour
Thank you for voting us #1 Olympic Village | Kitsilano | Mount Pleasant | Granville Island
Street) Sabrine Dhaliwal’s passion for hospitality and bartending is no secret—she’s currently bar manager at Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar, where her program is complex without being complicated while showcasing her team’s creations. Best fall cocktail: “Fallen Angel— a refreshing concoction of Cutty Sark Prohibition Scotch whisky, falernum, and lemon juice, with a hint of Bittered Sling Denman bitters.” Best bar besides yours: “My go-to bar changes often—I go to places where I get to see my friends while they are working. I have been spotted at the Diamond, L’Abattoir, and Prohibition, to name a few.”
KAITLYN STEWART, ROYAL DINETTE (905 Dunsmuir Street) Kaitlyn
Stewart saw her mixology stock con-
2 2nd
BEST 2 FOOD & DRINK BREW PUB
2017
tinue to soar this August when she placed first in the prestigious Diageo World Class Global Final competition in Mexico City. When not basking in the glow of being named World Class Bartender of the Year, she can be found heading up the bar at Royal Dinette. Best fall cocktail: “Like any Vancouverite, fall has to be my favourite season. The changing leaves, the rain, the cozy sweaters, and the feel-good cocktails. I typically go for a dark-spirited cocktail come fall. A Zacapa 23 Dark ’n’ Stormy will always pique my interest. At the Dinette we do a variation on the Dark ’n’ Stormy called Views from the Drink. It combines Bulleit bourbon, amaro, coffee orgeat, pressed lime juice, bitters, and ginger beer. Great for fall or winter sipping.” Best bar besides yours: “One of my favourite places to unwind after work would have to be the Gerard Lounge at the Sutton Place Hotel. It’s one of those few gems in the city that you can hide away and sip on a delicious cocktail in an old leather chair, in front of a fire. It kind of feels like you’re stepping back in time, which I absolutely love.” -
1. Granville Island Brewing 1441 Cartwright Street, Granville Island 2. Steamworks Brewing Co. 375 Water Street 3. Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery 310 West 4th Avenue PUB
1. The Irish Heather Gastropub 210 Carrall Street 2. The Charles Bar 136 West Cordova Street 3. Doolin’s Irish Pub 654 Nelson Street
LOCALLY BREWED BEER
1. Stanley Park Brewing Windstorm West Coast Pale Ale 2. Granville Island Lions Winter Ale 3. Parallel 49 Brewing Gypsy Tears NEW CRAFT BREWERY
1. Andina Brewing Company 1507 Powell Street 2. Faculty Brewing Co. 1830 Ontario Street 3. Luppolo Brewing Company 1123 Venables Street B.C. BEER BREWED OUTSIDE VANCOUVER
1. Phillips Brewing Blue Buck Ale 1. 33 Acres Brewing Company 2. Persephone Brewing Best Bitter 15 West 8th Avenue 3. Driftwood Brewery Fat Tug IPA 2. Brassneck Brewery CANADIAN BEER BREWED 2148 Main Street OUTSIDE B.C. 3. Granville Island Brewing 1. Steam Whistle Brewing 1441 Cartwright Street, 2. Mill Street Brewery Granville Island 3. Deschutes Brewery BREWERY TASTING ROOM
PRIVATE BEER STORE
1. Brewery Creek Cold Beer & Wine Store 3045 Main Street 2. Legacy Liquor Store 1633 Manitoba Street 3. Granville Liquor Store 2658 Granville Street
LOCAL DISTILLERY
1. Odd Society Spirits 1725 Powell Street 2. The Liberty Distillery 1494 Old Bridge Road, Granville Island 3. Long Table Distillery 1451 Hornby Street
LOCAL BREWERY
1. Red Truck Beer Company 295 East 1st Avenue 2. Granville Island Brewing 1441 Cartwright Street, Granville Island 3. Brassneck Brewery 2148 Main Street
76 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
PRIVATE LIQUOR STORE
1. Legacy Liquor Store 1633 Manitoba Street 2. My Liquor Store Various locations 3. Coal Harbour Liquor Store 1218 West Pender Street
SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 77
EXCLUSIVE
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SEE YA LATER RANCH GEWÜRZTRAMINER BC VQA Reg. $16.99 868067 750 ml
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150
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Only available at BC Liquor Stores Hints of pineapple & ginger
$
34
99
CROWN ROYAL NORTHERN HARVEST RYE Canada Reg. $39.99 429704 750 ml
$
Pairs with grilled chicken
21
99
2016
WORLD WHISKY OF THE YEAR
37
49 $
THE KRAKEN BLACK SPICED RUM Trinidad & Tobago Reg. $40.49 879171 1.14 L
Jim Murray
3199 SAWMILL CREEK CHARDONNAY Canada Reg. $34.99 435388 4 L
SAVE
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100
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300
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279 HIRES ROOT BEER & VODKA Canada Reg. $2.99 33087 473 ml
5
$
00
219
$
2129
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¢
BUDWEISER Canada Reg. $22.79 925222 15 x 355 ml
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150
$
829
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JAW DROP SUCKING LEMONS Canada Reg. $9.29 560565 6 x 355 ml
199
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30
300
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KRONENBOURG 1664 BLANC France Reg. $2.49 685594 500 ml
20¢
Abundant stonefruit notes
A pizza night favourite
$
NEW AMSTERDAM VODKA USA Reg. $22.99 694406 750 ml
849
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OYSTER BAY PINOT GRIGIO New Zealand Reg. $19.99 26567 750 ml
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12
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78 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BEST OF VANCOUVER
Tap & Barrel sommelier Emily Walker runs a program with a great selection of B.C. wines, but she’ll also give the nod to Old World labels for fall pairings.
Local experts reveal their favourite wines
S
ure, I could have done asked for the flavour profile of the due diligence by tasting wine, she headed straight to “ripe through an array of bottles plums, blackberry, and cherries to come up with the best drizzled in sweet balsamic”, adviswines for fall. It occurred to me, ing wine enthusiasts to “pair it with though, that I have contact info for charcuterie and bonfires”. some of the city’s top sommeliers and Over at Ancora Waterfront Dinrestaurant managers in my phone. ing and Patio, general manager and When looking for wine director Anthe best wines, drea Vescovi also why not hit up opted to go Italsome of Vancouian. The guy was Kurtis Kolt ver’s best palates? born in Rome, so I went ahead and did just that, and I guess it’s not too much of a stretch now, just like Georgia Straight read- that he went with the home team. ers, I have five new wines to discover. “I’m liking Luce della Vite 2014 LuLayla Shea runs the wine pro- cente [Tuscany, $34.99, B.C. Liquor gram at Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie Stores] for its well-rounded mouthand Kissa Tanto and enjoys the op- feel and textured tannins balancing portunity to pair unique wines with the acidity nicely,” he said. The Merlot chef Joel Watanabe’s modern Chi- and Sangiovese blend “has fruit notes nese fare at the former and his blend of dark berries, then sage and spice of Japanese and Italian cuisine at the with pleasant vanilla and mocha latter. With her cheery, enthusiastic in the background”. As a bonus, demeanour, I knew she’d pick a wine Vescovi’s selection is three dollars off carrying a festive flair. until September 30, so stock up! Lambrusco Solco Paltrinieri 2016 After a lengthy tenure as the wine from Emilia-Romagna, Italy ($28.99, director at the Four Seasons Hotel, Liberty Wine Merchants, Commer- Emily Walker had a couple kids and cial Drive location), made from Lam- is now back at it as the sommelier for brusco Salamino, is “a rustic, semi- the Tap & Barrel group. Although her secco frizzante perfectly at home wine program in the restaurants ofwith the year’s last outdoor cookout, fers a fantastic selection of British Colas it is with autumnal dinner favour- umbian wines, she opted to venture to ites, including mushrooms, black- the Old World for her chosen bottle. see next page berries, duck, and turkey”. When
Experience in the liquor/bar industry considered an asset. Send all inquiries to info@legacyliquorestore.com
The Bottle
BEST 2 FOOD & DRINK SPORTS BAR
HOTEL BAR/LOUNGE
INDEPENDENT BAR LOUNGE
1. The Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim 1038 Canada Place 2. Opus Bar 322 Davie Street 3. 1927 Lobby Lounge at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia 801 West Georgia Street
1. Shark Club Various locations 2. Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery 560 Smithe Street 3. Library Square Public House 300 West Georgia Street 1. Pourhouse 162 Water Street 2. The Keefer Bar 135 Keefer Street 3. The Narrow Lounge 1898 Main Street
PLACE FOR COCKTAILS
1. The Keefer Bar 135 Keefer Street 2. The Blackbird Public House 905 Dunsmuir Street 3. Prohibition 801 West Georgia Street RESTAURANT WINE LIST
1. Blue Water Cafe 1095 Hamilton Street 2. Hawksworth Restaurant 801 West Georgia Street 3. Chambar Restaurant 568 Beatty Street WINE BAR
1. UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar 900 Seymour Street 2. Salt Tasting Room 45 Blood Alley Square 3. TWB – The Wine Bar 1167 Marinaside Crescent
PRIVATE WINE STORE
1. Everything Wine Various locations 2. Legacy Liquor Store 1633 Manitoba Street 3. Marquis Wine Cellars 1034 Davie Street B.C. WINE/WINERY (WHITE)
1. JoieFarm Winery 2825 Naramata Road, Naramata 2. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver 3. Quails’ Gate 3303 Boucherie Road, West Kelowna B.C. WINE/WINERY (RED)
1. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver 2. Mission Hill Family Estate 1730 Mission Hill Road, West Kelowna 3. Quails’ Gate 3303 Boucherie Road, West Kelowna
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 79
Ben de Champlain oversees a stock of Spanish wines at Tempranillo, while Layla Shea pairs unique selections with the menus at Kissa Tanto and Bao Bei.
Local experts
from previous page
“Odé d’Aydie 2014 Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec [Madiran, France; $23.49, Liberty Wine Merchants, various locations] is a richly textured, dry white wine with loads of complexity from citrus fruit and warm, honeyed notes, with flavours of toasted pine nuts on the finish.” She sees it “paired with the smell of a chicken roasting in the oven on a fall afternoon”, calling the combo “bliss”. Miguel Quezada manages the bustling Savio Volpe up by Kingsway and Fraser. There’s always Italian deliciousness coming out of chef Mark Perrier’s kitchen, so it’s no surprise that he takes us back to Italy with a wine recently added to its list by sommelier Meghan Carr. “Biferno Rosso 2012 Di Majo Norante Ramitello [Molise; $23.99, B.C. Liquor Stores] is Montepulciano beefed up with some Aglianico, and it hits all the right notes: some soft edges, fruity, and subtle spice.” Looking at Perrier’s menu, I can see his grass-fed–veal chop with prosciutto, Taleggio cheese, and sage hittin’ that quite well. Ben de Champlain runs front of house at Tempranillo, a 26-seater in Gastown. He oversees a solid roster of Spanish wines, sherry, craft beer, and cider as well as a small cocktail list wherein his Vaquero—made
from bourbon, sherry, Basque apple honey, and bitters—is likely to be the first thing I order next time I pop in. Seriously, how good does that sound? He flies the Spanish flag with his selection, a gem coming from acclaimed winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. Available at Marquis Wine Cellars, Legacy Liquor Store, and Liberty Wine Merchants on Commercial Drive, the 2014 Al-muvedre Tinto Monastrell (Alicante; $19 to $24) was his choice without a moment of hesitation. Monastrell, also known as Mourvèdre, is the grape variety here and has de Champlain calling it “a beauty, loaded with dark, juicy fruit and spice; perfect for digging out your favourite sweater, gathering your friends, and revelling in all that fall has to offer!” It shouldn’t be too difficult to find inspiration when looking at chef and co-owner Bill Robitaille’s menu, with highlights like saffron-braised chicken thigh thickened with almond picada or the simple goodness of marinated manchego cheese with olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and herbs. Although these will all be great bottles to enjoy at home, consider visiting these fine folks at their establishments. Not only will you have the opportunity to tuck into some great meals but you can hit them up for more recommendations, live and in person. -
THE BEST SELECTION OF CRAFT BEER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Thank You Vancouver!
OPEN 11 - 11 EVERYDAY • FREE PARKING AROUND BACK www.brewerycreekliquorstore.com • 604-872-3373 • 14th & MAIN • FIND US
JJoie for the win, thank you for voting us th
BEST BC WINERY for WHITE WINES Best of Vancouver Readers’ Poll
80 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
everythingwine.ca
THANK YOU, VANCOUVER! we couldn’t be happier to be here! OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW CONCEPT STORE IN SOUTH VANCOUVER’S RIVER DISTRICT IS OPEN! 8570 RIVER DISTRICT CROSSING
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MATHILDE CHAPOUTIER DUCHÉ-DUZÈS ROUGE 22015
A delicate & fruity gem from France!
Aromas of plum & raspberry with a
90 Points - The Wine Advocate
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Flavours of raspberry & red currant with subtle notes of spice on the finish Pair with roast chicken or pork
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touch of soft spice
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A rich, smooth and balanced palate
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BUY ANY 12 BOTTLES AND SAVE 5% NORTH VANCOUVER
LANGFORD
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998 Marine Dr.
Unit 131-2401 Millstream Rd.
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CONTACT US AT: 1-844 989 9463 *All prices do not include tax or bottle deposits. SALE PRICES IN EFFECT THROUGH TO WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27
HOURS: Mon. – Sat. 10-9 Sun & Holidays. 11-7 SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 81
THANK YOU GEORGIA STRAIGHT READERS
we are honoured to be selected as
# 1 B E S T R E S TA U R A N T G R O U P 2 2 N D A N N U A L B E S T O F VA N C O U V E R
82 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
f dineout RESTAURANTS < FROM A TO Z <
f r b l n p t $ $$ $$$ $$$$
Legend Reviewed & Recommended Breakfast Lunch Late Night Patio Takeout Cheap Inexpensive Moderate Expensive
2AFRICAN FASSIL ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT Traditional Ethiopian food including vegetarian and meat dishes. 5-736 E. Broadway, 604-879-2001. lt$$
2AMERICAN REGIONAL DIXIE’S Texas-style barbecued meats and homestyle sides. 337 E. Hastings, 778379-4770. $$$ ★ MEMPHIS BLUES BARBEQUE HOUSE Hearty southern comfort food includes ribs and smoked chicken. 1465 W. Broadway, 604-738-6806. lt$$
THE YALE SALOON BBQ and Southernstyle comfort food created by executive chef Mark Crofton. 1300 Granville, 604-4289253. $$
age rolls and sandwiches. 855 Davie, 604428-8080. bl$
CHOICES MARKET RICE BAKERY High quality, organic, natural, and specialty foods. 2627 W. 16th, 604-736-0301.
2 2
DAVIDSTEA Gourmet, loose-leaf tea in a variety of flavours. 701 W. Georgia, 604669-7718. blt$$
2017
EARNEST ICE CREAM Small-batch ice cream shop featuring one-off flavours and traditional favourites. 1829 Quebec, 778-379-0697. $ ELBOW ROOM CAFE Eggs and abuse— finish large portions or else donate to charity. 560 Davie, 604-685-3628. bl$$ ELYSIAN COFFEE Coffee, tea, and baked goods. Located at the Burrard Hotel. 1100 Burrard. blt$ JAM CAFE Vintage joint serves all-day breakfast dishes. 556 Beatty. bl RAILTOWN CAFE Homemade salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastries. 397 Railway, 604-428-0800. blt$$
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US
BEST INDEPENDENT BAR LOUNGE
RAIN OR SHINE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Ice cream parlor using fresh, local, and natural ingredients. 3382 Cambie Street, 604-876-9986. lt REVOLVER COFFEE Cozy yet sophisticated coffeehouse in Gastown. 325 Cambie, 604-558-4444. bl$
2CASUAL/DINER 9TH AVENUE GRILL Breakfast and fair trade coffee served all day. 1822 W. Broadway, 604-714-0744. bl$ BON’S OFF BROADWAY East Van institution with $2.95 bacon-and-eggs breakfast. 2451 Nanaimo, 604-253-7242. blt$ DUKE’S ON BROADWAY Sandwiches, paninis, soups, salads, and Saturday brunch. 736 W. Broadway, 604-876-3853. blt$$ ★ DUNN’S FAMOUS Hand-cut Montrealstyle smoked-meat sandwiches, poutine, and all-day breakfasts. 827 Seymour, 604682-8938. blt$$
YOLK’S RESTAURANT & COMMISSARY Poached, free-range egg sandwiches, beignets, and hashbrowns. 1298 East Hastings Street, 604-428-9655. blt$
2CHINESE
2 2
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US MERCI DE NOUS AVOIR VOTÉ
Best New Restaurant SILVER
COBS BREAD Bread and pastries baked fresh daily. 1160 Davie, 604-681-0689. blt$
DYNASTY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Elegantly prepared cuisine created by executive chef Sam Leung. 108-777 W. Broadway, 604-876-8388. lt$$$
PUREBREAD Bakery serves up over 20 types of bread alongside cakes, cookies, and galettes. 159 W. Hastings, 604-5638060. blt$
FATTY COW SEAFOOD HOT POT Chinese-style hot pot with fresh veggies, meat, seafood, and dumplings. 5108 Victoria, 604-568-6630. t$$$
don’t miss out!
★ KIRIN Fine Cantonese dining featuring seafood dishes. 1172 Alberni, 604-944-8833. lt$$$
www.straight.com
LANDMARK HOT POT HOUSE Hong Kong–style hot pot; known for its flash wok-fried geoduck. 4023 Cambie, 604-8722868. t$$$
For up-to-the-minute, searchable Dine Out listings, visit
★ TERRA BREADS Sandwiches, soups, and treats made daily from scratch. Granville Island Public Market, 604-6853102. blt$
2BISTRO ★ HOMER ST. CAFE AND BAR Classic comfort food such as rotisserie chicken and chocolate pudding. 898 Homer, 604428-4299. l$$$
2BREWERY 33 ACRES BREWING COMPANY Craft brewery and tasting room. 15 W. 8th, 604620-4589. bl$$ BIG ROCK URBAN BREWERY & EATERY Craft brews complement a beerinspired menu. 310 W. 4th, 604-708-8311. $$ BRASSNECK BREWERY Popular craft brewery and tasting room. 2148 Main Street, 604-259-7686. $$ GRANVILLE ISLAND BREWING Canada’s first microbrewery opened in 1984 bringing west coast style and flavours to the craft brewing scene. 1441 Cartwright St., Granville Island, 604-687-2739. ODD SOCIETY SPIRITS Located on Powell Street in East Vancouver’s port district, Odd Society is dedicated to combining Old World distilling traditions with New World ingredients and ingenuity to create a family of spirits including whisky, vodka, and gin. 1725 Powell Street, 604-559-6745.
LEGENDARY NOODLE HOUSE Handcrafted noodles and dim sum. 1074 Denman, 604-669-8551. lt$$ LIN CHINESE CUISINE AND TEA HOUSE Northern Chinese food with award-winning xiaolongbao in a casual environment. 1537 W. Broadway, 604-733-9696. lt$$
PEACEFUL RESTAURANT Northern Chinese cuisine, handcrafted noodles, rolls, dumplings, and buns. 2394 W. 4th, 604-559-9533. lt$$ PELICAN SEAFOOD CHINESE RESTAURANT Traditional Chinese dishes and dim sum. 1895 E. Hastings, 604-2513395. t$$ ★ PINK PEARL CHINESE RESTAURANT Long-standing Chinese restaurant with dim sum and large banquet facilities. 1132 E. Hastings, 604-253-4316. lt$$
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US
BEST RESTAURANT (INDEPENDENT)
2 2
n d
2017
BRONZE
SHAOLIN NOODLE HOUSE Handmade noodles and dumplings made without MSG. 656 W. Broadway, 604-873-1618. l$
2CONTINENTAL ★ BAUHAUS RESTAURANT Uwe Boll’s fine-dining restaurant with a Michelinstarred German chef. 1 W. Cordova, 604974-1147. l$$$$
2CAFES/DESSERTS AMATO GELATO CAFE/MARIO’S GELATI Specialty gelatos, sorbettos, frozen yogurts, and novelties. 78 E. 1st, 604-879-9011. $
★ CHARTWELL Men’s-club setting, tiptop service. Four Seasons Hotel. 791 W. Georgia, 604-689-9333. bl$$$$
BEAUCOUP BAKERY & CAFÉ Charming spot makes French-inspired pastries and childhood favourites. 2150 Fir, 604-732-4222. blt$
2EAT IN/TAKE OUT
BREKA BAKERY & CAFE Highlights at this European bakery include almond chocolate croissants, cheese scones, and apple strudel slices. Wide variety of saus-
269 Powell Street, Vancouver BC, V6A 1G3 t. (604) 620-3800 e. info@stlawrencerestaurant.com stlawrencerestaurant.com
OLD GINGER Spicy Szechuan cuisine. 514 W. Broadway, 604-559-6798. lt$$
★ CHAMBAR RESTAURANT Busy Belgian restaurant with moules frites and a selection of imported beers. 568 Beatty, 604-879-7119. lp$$$$
BELLA GELATERIA Gelato made from local, fresh ingredients including Avalon Dairy organic milk. 1001 W. Cordova, 604569-1010. $
n d
2017
CHONGQING ON ROBSON Extensive menu, spicy dishes. Ginger beef a specialty. 1260 Robson, 604-568-0303. lt$$
2BAKERY
n d
9TH AVENUE GRILL Breakfast and fair trade coffee served all day. 1822 W. Broadway, 604-714-0744. bl$ AER CAFE Laid-back venue serves up coffee, tea, gourmet sandwiches, and seasonal soups. 2263 E. Hastings, 604-2588749. bl$
305 ALEXANDER ST VANCOUVER, BC 604 428 2544 @ASKFORLUIGI INFO@ASKFORLUIGI.COM ASKFORLUIGI.COM
BENTON BROTHERS FINE CHEESE Cheese from everywhere, in-house
see next page
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 83
Dine out
HOMETOWN
from previous page
smoked meat, condiments, crackers, and sandwiches. 2104 W. 41st, 604-261-5813. bl$$
2 INSTAGRAM
BOSA FOODS Shop serves Italian sandwiches and coffee, as well as imported food. 1465 Kootenay, 604-253-5578. $$ GLORY JUICE CO. Organic, cold-pressed juice, juice cleanses, almond milk, nut milk, smoothies, and superfood snacks. 2186 W. 4th, 778-379-4511. $$
Bestt pprivate rivvate ri va liquor store
Live social. Drink local.
1218 West Pender Street, Vancouver 604.685.1212 W W W. C OA L H A R B O U R L I Q U O R S T O R E . C O M OPEN
365
DAYS A YEAR
10AM
- 11PM
JACKSON’S MEATS AND DELI Longtime family-run business specializes in beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and game. 2214 W. 4th, 604-738-6328. $$ JUGO JUICE Healthy fruit smoothies and light meals. Various locations. $ THE JUICE TRUCK Juices and smoothies made with fresh fruit and vegetables. For truck locations, call 604-719-8861, follow @ juicetruck on Twitter, or see www.straight. com/. 28 W. 5th. lt$
@GEORGIASTRAIGHT Richmond B.C.
, Thinking about this roast garlic pepper #rotato (deep-fried twisted potato) If you’re heading to the @richmondnightmarket this weekend, #yvreats #vancouverfoodie
LES AMIS DU FROMAGE Shop specializes in cheese, platters, fondue, charcuterie, and housemade preserves. 843 E. Hastings, 604-253-4218. blt$$$ MARKET MEATS Gourmet butcher shop specializing in meats, ready-made meals, and rubs and sauces. 2326 W. 4th, 604-7370905. $$
L’ABATTOIR Modern, French-inspired cuisine in a stylish Gastown space. 217 Carrall, 604-568-1701. p$$$
MEINHARDT FINE FOODS Cheeses, sliced meats, organic fruits and vegetables. 609 Granville, 604-681-8175. blt$$
LES FAUX BOURGEOIS Cozy and casual Parisian-style bistro featuring classic French dishes. 663 E. 15th, 604-873-9733. $$$
QOOLA FROZEN YOGURT BAR Offers over 20 different flavours of frozen yogurt and 40 toppings to choose from, assorted deli sandwiches and salads, healthy smoothies, fresh baked goods, and waffles. 1194 Robson, 778-379-9755. ★ ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD CO. Handmade thin-crust pizzas with organic toppings. 4186 Main, 604-566-9779. blpt$$
★ ST. LAWRENCE Operated by the same team behind Ask for Luigi, Pourhouse, Pizzeria Farina, and Joe Pizza, this charming Railtown spot specializes in Québécois dishes like pork rillette, Pomme Duchesse, and ballotine de canard. 269 Powell, 604-620-3800. $$$
ROOSTER’S ICE CREAM BAR Artisanal ice cream made with fresh local ingredients. 1039 E. Broadway, 778-379-6889. $
★ TABLEAU BAR BISTRO French comfort food made with local ingredients. 1181 Melville, 604-639-8692. bl$$$
SOLLY’S BAGELRY Sandwiches on bagels and bread, Jewish baked goods. 4071 Main, 604-675-9770. blt$
2GREEK ★ APOLLONIA GREEK RESTAURANT Friendly hideaway serving generous portions of Greek home cooking. 1830 Fir, 604-736-9559. lt$$$
★ TERRA BREADS Sandwiches, soups, and treats made daily from scratch. 2380 W. 4th, 604-736-1838. blt$
ATHENE’S Thirty years of authentic Greek food; friendly atmosphere, lamb casserole specialty. 3618 W. Broadway, 604-7314135. lpt$$
URBAN FARE Natural, organic, and local groceries. 177 Davie, 604-975-7550. blt$$
2FRENCH
Thank you s
for Vot ing U
BEST BBQ
in Vancouver!
VISIT US FOR ONE OF OUR WEEKLY SPECIALS!
CRISTOS Good atmosphere and Greek food en route to SFU. 4624 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-0008. lt$$
ABSINTHE BISTRO French bistro classics like duck-leg confit and beef bourguignon. 1260 Commercial Drive, 604-566-9053. p$$$ ★ BACCHUS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Modern French food in an elegant setting at the Wedgewood Hotel. 845 Hornby, 604-608-5319. bl$$$$
MARIA’S TAVERNA Family-run Greek restaurant. 2324 W. 4th, 604-731-4722. lp$$
2INDIAN
★ LE CROCODILE Alsatian regional dishes in Downtown Vancouver. 100-909 Burrard, 604-669-4298. lp$$$$
INDIAN N RESTAURANT 6 87- 0 0 49 6 0 4 4 8 4 -2236
Expires: Oct 31/2017
604
Coyote Dancers Bull Riding
✃
www.sitarrestaurant.net
THURSDAY Student Night
10 OFF!!
When 2 meals are purchased
8 POWELL ST. (IN GASTOWN)
$10 Brisket + Beer
.35 cent Wings
see page 87
$
SUNDAY Karaoke MONDAY Trivia
★ ALL INDIA SWEETS & RESTAURANT An array of Indian desserts and savoury takeout. 6560 Main, 604-327-0891. lt$$
Open Daily 11am-11pm Across from the Gassy Jack statue in Gastown
Not valid for delivery or specials. Dine in only. Lunch or Dinner.
• One coupon per 2 people • Max: 3 coupons per table
Ru nne r- up Be st I ndi an
3 4 t h A N N I V ER SA R Y
AFGHAN HORSEMEN RESTAURANT SINCE 1974
AWARD WINNING AFGHAN CUISINE
12T H A N N U A L
17
18
2014
2015
Connect with Us!
@yalesaloon 1300 Granville St. Van | 604.428.9253 | yalesaloon.com
1833 Anderson St. (2nd Floor) Vancouver
BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO GRANVILLE ISLAND, RIGHT BEHIND THE STARBUCKS
(604)873-5923 Open 7 Days A Week www.afghanhorsemen.com
84 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
THANK YOU FOR VOTING, VANCOUVER!
BOTANIST 2 2nd
best new restaur ant
THE LOBBY LOUNGE
best hotel bar/lounge
FAIRMONT PACIFIC RIM
2017
best hotel metro vancouver
FA I R M O N T PAC I F I C R I M (604) 695-5300 FA I R M O N T.C O M / PAC I F I C R I M @ FA I R M O N T PAC I F I C
SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 85
2 2nd
2017
• NOW SERVING WEEKEND BRUNCH •
THE FULL IRISH BREAKFAST 20TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
THE IRISH HEATHER
210 Carrall Street • 604.688.9779 I R I SH H EATH ER .COM 1ST PLACE - BEST PUB
• NEW TAPAS MENU • • OPEN FOR LUNCH •
TUES - SAT • NOON ONWARDS 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
SALT
45 Blood Alley • 604.633.1912 SALTTASTI NGROOM .COM 2ND PLACE - BEST WINE BAR
Congratulations to
the Georgia Straight on your 50 th Anniversary!
Thanks for eating & drinking in our diverse group of eateries for 45 years combined.
Thank you for your votes! 86 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
B E S T P R I V AT E L I Q U O R S T O R E R U N N E R U P P R I V AT E W I N E S T O R E R U N N E R U P B E ST P R IVATE B E E R STOR E
Dine out
from page 84
ASHIANA TANDOORI RESTAURANT Longstanding family-run restaurant serves Indian curries and tandoori dishes. 1440 Kingsway, 604-874-5060; 200-8072 120th St., Surrey, 604-593-5458. 1440 Kingsway, 604874-5060. lt$$ CHAI Elevated Indian ayurvedic cooking upstairs from East Is East. Walled-in patio. 2nd floor, 3243 W. Broadway, 604-734-5881; 4413 Main, 604-879-2020. $$
HOMETOWN 2 INSTAGRAM
ARRIVA RISTORANTE Italian fare includes whole wheat, gluten-free, and vegetarian pastas. 1537 Commercial Drive, 604-251-1177. l$$ ★ ASK FOR LUIGI Casual, intimate restaurant specializes in handmade pasta. Excellent antipasti. Family-style dishes. Brunch. 305 Alexander, 604-428-2544. l$$
BIBO PIZZERIA CON CUCINA Authentic Italian Neapolitan pizza. 1835 W. 4th, 604568-6177. l$$ CIBO TRATTORIA Stylish room with upscale Italian food. 900 Seymour, 604602-9570. bl$$$ ★ CINCIN RISTORANTE + BAR Mediterranean and classic Italian dishes from a wood-burning oven. 1154 Robson, 604-688-7338. p$$$
DARIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO Fine Italian cuisine. 3075 Slocan, 604-430-2195. l$$ GIARDINO Umberto Menghi’s new spot serves Tuscan-style Italian cuisine. 1328 Hornby, 604-669-2422. $$$$ LA GROTTA DEL FORMAGGIO Sandwich bar and Italian deli with a selection of cheeses, meats, and specialty foods. 1791 Commercial, 604-255-3911. lt$
@IAMSALLYX20 Vancouver, B.C.
, We’ve got brunch on the brain this morning, especially when it’s from @medinacafe, #yvreats #vancouverfoodie DHALIWAL RESTAURANT AND SWEETS Indian eatery specializes in pizza, snack mixes, and sweets. 6555 Fraser, 604-325-4911. lt$$ ★ HIMALAYA RESTAURANT Real Indian food includes samosa appetizers and buffet. 6587 Main, 604-324-6514. l$$
LA NOTTE RISTORANTE ITALIANO Variety of pasta in a friendly, neighbourhood atmosphere. 3307 Dunbar, 604-2224033. t$$ LA QUERCIA Cozy Italian restaurant offers family-style platters for two or more. 3689 W. 4th, 604-676-1007. $$$ SAVIO VOLPE Classic osteria–rustic fare in the Italian tradition, using local ingredients. Pasta handmade daily. 615 Kingsway, 604-428-0072. $$
2JAPANESE AJISAI SUSHI BAR Small Kerrisdale eatery with great sushi rice. 2081 W. 42nd, 604-266-1428. l$$$ AKI SUSHI Downtown eatery serves Japanese grilled dishes and sushi rolls. 1368 W. Pender, 604-682-4032. lt$$
INDIAN OVEN Traditional Indian restaurant offering a selection of curries and tandoori dishes. 2006 W. 4th, 604-730-5069. lt$$
BENKEI NOODLE SHOP Casual, cozy, and busy ramen house; custom design your bowl by choosing a broth and toppings. 545 W. Broadway, 604-568-6178. t$
★ MADRAS DOSA HOUSE Family-run South Indian eatery makes beautiful dosas, as well as biriyani and curries. 5656 Fraser, 604-327-1233. lt$$
EBISU Japanese tapas and inventive sushi; trendy, modern atmosphere. 827 Bute, 604-689-8266. lnt$$
★ MUMBAI MASALA Intimate rooms with a glamorous feel. Subtle, masterful cooking. 770-333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver, 604-984-8888. lpt$$ ★ RANGOLI Sister venture to Vij’s with takeaway meals, frozen dinners, and a selection of entrées. 1488 W. 11th, 604-736-5711. lt$$
SITAR Classic Indian cuisine in Gastown. 8 Powell, 604-687-0049. tl$$$ A TASTE OF INDIA Specializing in butter chicken, tandoori, and vegetarian curries. 1282 Robson, 604-662-8585. lt$$ TASTY INDIAN BISTRO Upscale restaurant serving Indian street food, fusion dishes, and traditional fare. 8295 120th St., Delta, 604-507-9393. lt$$ ★ VIJ’S Famous for artful cooking, engaging service. 3106 Cambie, 604-7366664. $$$
2ITALIAN AL PORTO RISTORANTE Traditional Italian fare, Neapolitan pizza, Tuscan ambiance. 321 Water, 604-683-8376. lt$$$$
Find our cafés located at 28 W 5th Ave & 1022 Mainland St, our truck at Cambie & Cordova in Gastown, our smoothie cart at Burrard & Robson or have our juice hand delivered straight to your home.
GREEN LEAF SUSHI Traditional sushi, sashimi, tempura, and donburi. 3416 W. Broadway, 604-568-9406. lt$$ ★ JAPADOG Japanese twist on the common hot dog. Featuring toppings such as Japanese mayo, nori, teriyaki sauce, green onions, miso sauce, kaiware, and daikon. 530 Robson, 604-569-1158. t$ ★ KIBUNE SUSHI Traditional sushi restaurant with bar seating, snug booths, and a small patio. 1508 Yew, 604-731-4482. pt$$
KINGYO IZAKAYA Lively West End spot with well-presented Japanese tapas, leafy room. 871 Denman, 604-608-1677. l$$
SATURDAY SEPT. 30
KOBE JAPANESE STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE Teppanyaki dishes prepared by entertaining chefs at the table. 1042 Alberni, 604-684-2451. $$
11 A.M. – 7 P.M.
KOKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT Traditional sushi and Japanese cuisine. 2053 E. Hastings, 604-251-1328.
GARDEN CITY LANDS RICHMOND BC
MIKU RESTAURANT Stylish Japanese eatery specializes in flame-seared, aburi-style sushi. 70-200 Granville, 604-568-3900. lp$$
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Dine out
2MIDDLE EASTERN from previous page
★ TOJO’S Sushi and seafood from the city’s best-known Japanese restaurant. 1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050. pt$$$$
TOSHI SUSHI Popular sushi house in Mount Pleasant. 181 E. 16th, 604-874-5173. $$$
2LATIN AMERICAN/CARIBBEAN ADELITAS Traditional Mexican food with vegetarian options. 5178 Victoria, 604-6771580. bl$$
THANK YOU
GEORGIA T STRAIGHT S READERS
WINDSTORM WEST COAST PALE ALE BEST LOCALLY BREWED BEER
BANDIDAS TAQUERIA homey Commercial Drive nook, which features tasty, veggie-loaded spins on classic dishes like burritos, tacos, fajitas and enchiladas. 2781 Commercial, 604-568-8224. bl$ CALABASH BISTRO Gastown restaurant serves Caribbean curries, jerk chicken, and oxtail stew. 428 Carrall, 604-568-5882. l$$ ★ CILANTRO & JALAPENO Authentic menu of lesser-known Mexican dishes, plus groceries. 123 Carrie Cates Court, 604-986-6344. lt$
2MIDDLE EASTERN/AFRICAN CAZBA RESTAURANT Authentic Persian stews and kebabs. 1103 Davie, 604-4284747. $$
★ BISHOP’S Elegant, understated West Coast menu with European influences. 2183 W. 4th, 604-738-2025. l$$$$
STANLEYPARKBREWING.COM
2MEDITERRANEAN
@STANLEYPARKBREW
★ ESPAÑA Bustling eatery serves Spanish tapas with an all-Spanish wine list. 1118 Denman, 604-558-4040. $$
Thank You Vancouver
alist in the following categories: g us a fin for votin for voting us: • Best Grocer ery store • First place winner for BEST groc Storenic produce store. ellness h andpW • Best Herualt orga ST BE r fo • Second nner-u Business • Best Environmentally Responsible
88 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
NUBA RESTAURANT AND CAFÉ NUBA Authentic Lebanese food served in a casual, upbeat atmosphere. 146 E. 3rd, 604-568-6727. lt$$
LAS MARGARITAS RESTAURANTE Y CANTINA Casual atmosphere. Mexican classics, weekend brunch. 1999 W. 4th, 604734-7117. lpt$$
TACOFINO TACO AND BURRITO BAR Bustling sit-down space also has takeout burrito bar. 15 W. Cordova, 604-899-7907. l$$
choicesmarkets.com
★ JAMJAR Lebanese comfort food, served tapas-style. 2280 Commercial, 604252-3957. lt$$
★ BEACH HOUSE AT DUNDARAVE PIER Fresh, modern food. Excellent wine list. 150 25th St., West Van, 604-922-1414. lp$$$$
RED BURRITO Latin-American and Caribbean burritos. 606 Robson, 604-6760097; 1700 Commercial, 604-707-0877. For more locations, see www.straight.com/. 1236 Robson, 604-676-0040.
A True BC Grocer Since 1990
EAST IS EAST Traditional Middle Eastern cuisine served in an authentic space. 4433 Main, 604-565-4401. l$$
EL CAMINO’S Latin American street food such as tacos, arepas, and bocadillos, 3250 Main, 604-875-6246. $$
★ THE REEF Caribbean favourites like roti and jerk chicken. 4172 Main, 604-8745375. lp$$
25¢ from every 6 pack sold benefits:
BEST FALAFEL Authentic Syrian-style Lebanese cuisine made with halal-certified meat. 2013 Commercial, 604-251-9444. l$$
2PACIFIC NORTHWEST
PEPITAS Live music weekends, Spanish and Mexican food. 2015 Burrard, 604-7328884. lnt$$
2017
★ BABYLON CAFÉ Popular, authentic, take-out shawarma spot. 105–1610 Robson, 604-568-6324. lt$
CUCHILLO Modern pan-Latin tapas and classic cocktails in a room. 261 Powell, 604559-7585. $$$
★ LA MEZCALERIA Cantina combines home-style dishes like fish tacos with cocktails focusing on mescal. 1622 Commercial, 604-559-8226. $$ 2 2nd
AFGHAN HORSEMEN RESTAURANT Lamb, beef, and chicken shish kebabs, plus vegetarian dishes. 202-1833 Anderson St., Granville Island, 604-873-5923. lt$$$
★ BISTRO 101 Gourmet food prepared by Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts students; à la carte dining, buffets, and three-course set meals. 1505 W. 2nd, 604-734-0101. l$$$
BOTANIST Executive chef Hector Laguna’s menu is inspired by the culinary abundance and botany of the Pacific Northwest. 1038 Canada Place, 604-695-5500. $$$$ ★ COAST Stylish setting showcases inventive West Coast seafood menu. 1054 Alberni, 604-685-5010. p$$$$
COPPERTANK GRILL Casual joint features a casual, well-rounded menu. 3135 W. Broadway, 604-731-6565. $$ ★ DIVA AT THE MET Haute West Coast cuisine prepared with high-tech methods. 645 Howe, 604-602-7788. lp$$$$
DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT Ocean Wise seafood, in-house brewery. 1253 Johnston, Granville Island, 604-685-7070. blp$$$ ★ EDIBLE CANADA Tasty West Coast dishes made with local ingredients. 1596 Johnston, Granville Island, 604-682-6681. blp$$$
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â&#x2DC;&#x2026; FABLE Modern Canadian cuisine created by Top Chef Canada competitor Trevor Bird. 1944 W. 4th, 604-732-1322. $$$
HOMETOWN 2 INSTAGRAM
DUBH LINN GATE Irish-style pub with local craft beer and imports, fish and chips, and more. 1601 Main, 604-449-1464. l$$$
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; FORAGE Sustainable, nose-to-tail cuisine. 1300 Robson, 604-661-1400. $$ â&#x2DC;&#x2026; HAWKSWORTH RESTAURANT Contemporary cuisine by chef David Hawksworth. 801 W. Georgia, 604-673-7000. bl$$$$
FALCONETTIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EAST SIDE GRILL Commercial Drive eatery with house-made gourmet sausages and laid-back upstairs terrace. 1812 Commercial, 604-251-7287. p$$
MANHATTAN RESTAURANT Simple, modern approach to classic dishes and beverages. Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel. 550 W. Hastings, 604-899-3049. lb$$$
GLOWBAL Sophisticated surroundings complement a global menu, specializing in robata. 590 W. Georgia, 604-602-0835. $$$ GRANVILLE ROOM Small plates available 4 to 7 pm and midnight to 2 am. The Chaperones live Wed; DJs playing rare grooves, nu disco, and rap Fri.-Sun. Open 4 pm to 3 am seven nights a week. 957 Granville, 604-633-0056.
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; MISSION Tasting menus from Top Chef Canada contender Curtis Luk. 2042 W. 4th Ave., 604-739-2042. $$$
MOSAIC BAR & GRILLE Upscale dining; located in the Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel. 655 Burrard, 604-639-4770. bl$$$$
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; THE IRISH HEATHER GASTROPUB Traditional Irish fare, Guinness on tap. 210 Carrall, 604-688-9779. blp$$
ROYAL DINETTE Chef David Gunawanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm-to-table dishes, with a five-course tasting-menu option. 905 Dunsmuir, 604974-8077. l$$$
THE KEEFER BAR Sleek Chinatown bar serves â&#x20AC;&#x153;apothecaryâ&#x20AC;? cocktails and Asian street-food tapas. 135 Keefer, 604-688-1961. $$
SEASONS IN THE PARK Pacific Northwest food. Queen Elizabeth Park (W. 33rd at Cambie), 604-874-8008. lp$$$ THE SONORA ROOM, BURROWING OWL ESTATE WINERY Cuisine made from South Okanagan produce and artisanal breads and cheeses. 500 Burrowing Owl Pl., Oliver, 877-498-0620. l$$$
BIBO PIZZERIA CON CUCINA Authentic Italian Neapolitan pizza. 1835 W. 4th, 604568-6177. l$$
2RESTAURANT/BAR 1927 LOBBY LOUNGE AT THE ROSEWOOD HOTEL GEORGIA Retro cocktails and casual fare. 801 W. Georgia, 604-682-5566. l$$$ ABODE RESTAURANT West Coast-style comfort food. 1223 Robson, 604-688-1411. blt$$ ALIBI ROOM Hip hangout in Gastown. Good appetizer list. 157 Alexander, 604623-3383. l$$$
3
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; THE BLACKBIRD PUBLIC HOUSE Modern pub food made with local ingredients; craft cocktails. 905 Dunsmuir, 604-899-4456. l$$$
BRIX & MORTAR Executive Chef Chris Bisaro presents modern Canadian cuisine with subtle French, Italian, and Asian influences, crafted with locally sourced ingredients. 1138 Homer, 604-915-9463. $$$$ CHESHIRE CHEESE INN British pub grub like steak and kidney pie, bangers and mash, and shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pie. 4585 Dunbar, 604-224-2521. l$$ CINEMA PUBLIC HOUSE Pub featuring craft beer and cocktails, pub food, latenight menu, and weekend brunch. DJs all night Wed-Sun. Happy hour 3-6 pm. 901 Granville, 604-694-0202. l$$
COLONY BAR Kits watering hole features Low Brow Thursdays with comedy and live music. Casual favourites like nachos, burgers, and fish and chips. Brunch on the weekends. 3255 W. Broadway, 604-5596070. l$$ COLONY MAIN STREET Comfort food and craft beer with sports, comedy, live music, and more. 2904 Main, 604-565-6246. $$ CRAFT BEER MARKET Over 140 beers on tap complement burgers and flatbreads. 85 W. 1st, 604-709-2337. lp$$$
LONG TABLE DISTILLERY Micro-distillery features a selection of award-winning spirits. 1451 Hornby, 604-266-0177. THE METROPOLE COMMUNITY PUB Burgers, poutine, and sandwiches. 320 Abbott, 604-408-5822. l$$ MOXIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLASSIC GRILL Burgers, pasta, and pizza in a casual setting. 1160 Davie, 604-678-8043. l$$ THE NARROW LOUNGE Hip space dishes up drinks and small, shareable plates. 1898 Main, 604-839-5780. $$ NEW OXFORD PUBLIC HOUSE Pub fare with a British touch. 1144 Homer, 604-8993229. l$$
DARBYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PUB Neighbourhood pub offers pastas, sandwiches, and craft beer. 2001 Macdonald, 604-731-0617. lp$$
NIGHTINGALE Modern Canadian cuisine highlights fresh crudo and charcuterie, creative house-made pastas, pizzas, crisp salads, and seasonal veggie dishes. 1017 W. Hastings, 604-695-9500. $$$
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; DARK TABLE Contemporary set menus served in a pitch-black dining room by visually impaired servers. 2611 W. 4th, 604-739-3275. $$$
PIER 73 RESTAURANT Casual favourites made with good ingredients. Fabulous view, brunch on weekends. 3500 Cessna Dr., Richmond, 604-276-1954. lp$$
THE PINT PUBLIC HOUSE Sports bar serves favourites like nachos, burgers, and chicken wings. Brunch on weekends. 455 Abbott, 604-684-0258. l$$ PORTLAND CRAFT Locally sourced dishes inspired by the Portland food scene; a focus on Oregon beer. 3835 Main, 604-569-2494. lt$$ POURHOUSE Handcrafted cocktails and a well-edited wine list; comfort-food menu. 162 Water, 604-568-7022. l$$$ RED CARD SPORTS BAR + EATERY Italian-inspired dishes like arancini, meatball subs, and pizza. 560 Smithe, 604-6894460. l$$ RITUAL Comfort food like Swedish meatballs, daily handpies, and buttermilk pancakes. 774 Denman, 604-428-7722. bl$$$ SHARK CLUB Sports bar/nightclub within walking distance of GM Place, B.C. Place Stadium, and Queen Elizabeth Theatre. DJs at 10 pm. 180 W. Georgia, 604-687-4275. l$$ â&#x2DC;&#x2026; ST. LAWRENCE Operated by the same team behind Ask for Luigi, Pourhouse, Pizzeria Farina, and Joe Pizza, this charming Railtown spot specializes in QuĂŠbĂŠcois dishes like pork rillette, Pomme Duchesse, and ballotine de canard. 269 Powell, 604-620-3800. $$$
STEAMWORKS BREWING CO. Pacific Northwest fare. Craft beers brewed inhouse. 375 Water, 604-689-2739. l$$$ THE SUNSET GRILL TAP HOUSE & WHISKEY BAR: CLOSED Dishes made with organic, sustainable ingredients; diverse whisky and craft-beer selection. 2204 York, 604-732-3733. pt$$
2SEAFOOD 7 SEAS FISH CO. Exotic and domestic fish and shellfish. 2328 W. 4th, 604-732-8608. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; BLUE WATER CAFE Fresh local seafood, sushi, and raw bar. 1095 Hamilton, 604-688-8078. p$$$$
COCKNEY KINGS FISH & CHIPS Traditional English fish and chips. All you can eat on Mon, Tues, and Wed. 66 10th St, New Westminster, 604-522-6099; 6574 E. Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-291-1323. t$$ FANNY BAY OYSTER BAR AND SHELLFISH MARKET Fresh, tide-to-table shellfish. Brunch on the weekend. 762 Cambie, 778-379-9510. l$$$ â&#x2DC;&#x2026; THE FISH COUNTER Robert Clarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainable-seafood eatery serves fish and chips and more. 3825 Main, 604-8763474. lt$$ â&#x2DC;&#x2026; GO FISH CafĂŠ serving seafood and chips. 1505 W. 1st, 604-730-5040. lpt$$
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Prices 7ITXIQFIV Below Govt. SPECIALS Stores!
$ 00 BELOW GOVT. STORE
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; LOCAL PUBLIC EATERY Burgers, nachos, and guacamole made at the table. 2210 Cornwall, 604-734-3589. l$$
THE BIMINI PUBLIC HOUSE Gastropub fare with 24 beers on tap. 2010 W. 4th, 604733-7116. l$$
2PIZZA
3TIR E Q XS T Q HE]W E [IIO
Gastownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mosquito dessert and champagne bar now offers a delicious afternoon tea set on Sundays. #yvreats #vancouverfoodie #vancouverfood #vancityeats
WILDEBEEST Farm-to-table cuisine with an emphasis on whole-animal cooking. 120 W. Hastings, 604-687-6880. $$$
the heartland group of liquor stores
Vancouver, B.C.
LOBBY LOUNGE TERRACE + RAWBAR AT THE FAIRMONT PACIFIC RIM Piano bar serves a light breakfast, Asian fare, raw seafood, and a tasty afternoon tea. 1038 Canada Place, 604-695-5502. bl$$$
@CH0C0TAM
TAP & BARREL RESTAURANT Locally sourced comfort food, craft beer, and premium wine. 1 Athletes Way, 604-6852223. lp$$ WATER ST. CAFĂ&#x2030; Creative seafood dishes, pasta, fresh-baked breads, and desserts. 300 Water, 604-689-2832. lp$$$
DOOLINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IRISH PUB Modern Irish pub serves staples like shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pie and nachos. 654 Nelson, 604-605-4343. $$
.EQIWSR 750ml
Malibu 750ml
Captain Morgan 1.14L
Valle Las Acequias Malbec 750ml
2
$ 00 BELOW GOVT. STORE
1SSWILIEH 8 cans
;MPH +SSWI %YXYQR +SPH 750ml
3OEREKER 7TVMRKW 12 cans
1
$ 50 BELOW GOVT. STORE
Big Bill 6IH ERH ;LMXI 750ml
Russian 7XERHEVH 750ml
%TSXLMG 6IH 750ml
Nicosia Sicilio Grillo 750ml
3PH 1MP[EYOII 15cans
1
$ 00 BELOW GOVT. STORE
7XIEQ[SVOW Pale Ale 6 bottles
4EVOWMHI (MQ ;MX 6 cans
Beau BonLSQQI 750ml
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TAXES OR DEPOSIT. Prices in effect September 5th to October 1st, 2017 while quantities last. Prices subject to change without notice.
) WX %ZIRYI :ERGSYZIV Â&#x2C6; SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 89
Dine out
from previous page
JOE FORTES SEAFOOD & CHOP HOUSE Bustling seafood grill with steaks and an oyster bar. 777 Thurlow, 604-6691940. lp$$$
Kate Evans: Threads
FRI SEP 29 2017 / 7:30pm Chan Centre at UBC Telus Studio Theatre
Graphic novelist and activist Kate Evans shares her visual reportage from the Calais refugee camp, accompanied by live music and followed by discussion.
PELICAN SEAFOOD CHINESE RESTAURANT Traditional Chinese dishes and dim sum. 1895 E. Hastings, 604-2513395. t$$ ★ SALMON HOUSE ON THE HILL Native-art-themed room; alder-grilledsalmon dishes. 2229 Folkestone Way, West Vancouver, 604-926-3212. lp$$$$
2SOUTHEAST ASIAN ★ BANANA LEAF Malaysian food, mild to spicy, with familiar and unusual dishes. 820 W. Broadway, 604-731-6333. lt$$
A TASTE OF VIETNAM Vietnamese subs and pho. 1016 W. Broadway, 604-730-8383. lt$
2STEAKHOUSES CHOP STEAK FISH BAR Fine dining in a classy environment. In-house butcher and baker; homemade desserts and ice cream. 10251 St. Edwards Dr., Richmond, 604-276-1180. blp$$$$
★ GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE & BAR American-style steakhouse with by-theglass wine selection. 615 Seymour, 604605-8282. lp$$$$ ★ HY’S STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR Traditional steakhouse with steak tartare and Canadian beef. 637 Hornby, 604-683-7671. l$$$$
2STREET FOOD MOM’S GRILLED CHEESE Grilledcheese sandwiches, soup, and sweet treats. For locations, follow@momsgrilledchz on Twitter Mobile locations. lt$ TACOFINO Baja-style tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. 2327 E. Hastings, 604-253-8226. lt$
2TAPAS ★ SALT TASTING ROOM Simple menu features artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and an extensive selection of wines, beers, and sherries. 45 Blood Alley Square, 604-633-1912. $$$
UVA WINE & COCKTAIL BAR Posh lounge located beside the Moda Hotel. 900 Seymour, 604-632-9560. bl$$$
2TEAHOUSE THE SECRET GARDEN TEA COMPANY One of Vancouver’s top spots for high tea, brunch, breakfast, and hand-crafted pastries. 2138 W. 40th, 604-261-3070.
Tickets and info at
chancentre.com
9 Year Anniversary th
All Dosa’s on special
$699*
Expires Sept. 30/17 *some exceptions apply
2THAI THAI AWAY HOME Eat in or take away. Fresh sauces and frozen dinners to cook at home. 3315 Cambie, 604-873-8424. t$
2VEGETARIAN ★ THE ACORN Inventive, artsy vegetarian cuisine. 3995 Main, 604-566-9001. $$$
CHOMP VEGAN EATERY Organic, local, and gluten-free salads, sandwiches, main dishes, and baked goods. 3586 Fraser, 604-917-0201. blt$$
Tues. - Sun. 11:30am to 10pm (Closed Monday)
5656 Fraser St. @ 41 st Ave, Van
MEET Veggie friendly comfort food. 12 Water, 604-688-3399. l$$
madrasdosahouse.com
★ THE NAAM RESTAURANT Funky natural-food joint. 2724 W. 4th, 604-7387151. blpt$$
604-327-1233
90 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
★ DHARMA KITCHEN All-vegan offerings: salads, veggie burgers, rice bowls, tofu dishes. Serene, cozy setting. 3667 W. Broadway, 604-738-3899. lt$$
ARTS
Is this farewell? That’s a logical reaction B Y ALEX ANDER VAR T Y
to the title of the new Blind Boys of Alabama album, Almost Home. After all, the band’s leader, Jimmy Carter, is well into his late 80s. (He doesn’t know his exact age, because no records were kept of black births in the segregated Alabama of the 1920s and ’30s.) The other singing members of the group—Ben Moore, Paul Beasley, and, when his health allows, Carter’s fellow founding member Clarence Fountain—are mostly younger, but all grizzled veterans. Is their road—or at least their time on the road—coming to an end? Carter simply laughs when the Georgia Straight makes that suggestion. “I hope not!” the gospel legend says. “What we wanted to convey there was that we have almost reached our goal, and that means we’re almost home.” He also points out that one of the tracks on the new album, “Let My Mother Live”, is based on how, during his early days at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, he used to worry that his mother would die before he finished his education and returned home. “I was still a little boy, just seven or eight years old, and I used to pray to God to let my mother live, so she could see me through this tribulation period,” Carter recalls. “And God didn’t only let her live until I got home; he let her live to be 103 years old. So I love to talk about that—and I hope I can do that, too.” There’s no reason to doubt that Carter has both the fortitude and the right genetic stuff to reach that age. He is, however, beginning to look backward in time, to his school days, to his later life as a working musician, and to his participation in the civil-rights battles of the 1960s. He was, for instance, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, when state troopers beat unarmed and mostly African-American marchers in what would quickly become a triumph for the civil-rights movement’s ideology of peaceful resistance.
Singing a stormy history
Blind Boys of Alabama founder Jimmy Carter (centre) is in his late 80s, but he and the long-running group aren’t looking to retire anytime soon.
join the southern singers Away”, and “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”, alongside and their band, repris- Curtis Mayfield’s social-justice hymn “People Get The Blind Boys of Alabama’s Jimmy Carter’s tales of the civiling a collaboration first Ready”. Inserting his own high-octane voice into advanced by the Strat- an ensemble that’s been together for almost 80 rights fight and the Deep South now form a musical memoir ford Festival in 2015. years, the tenor adds, is no challenge at all. Several of these stories fi nd musical form on “We’ve worked with Ben before, in Canada, “You just have to stay aware, and try to fit into Almost Home, thanks to the Blind Boys’ man- and it worked out so well that when he wantwhat they are doing,” he explains. “The thing ager, Charles Driebe. If Carter wasn’t going to ed us to do that again, we jumped at the that you have to realize is that opera singwrite his own musical memoir, Driebe figured, opportunity,” Carter says. “He’s a very, ers don’t start out singing opera. They he’d have to get someone else to do it for him— very nice man.” Check out… all do something else first.…So you STRAIGHT.COM so he sat down with a voice recorder and got the Heppner, for his part, is equalhave a whole range of options availVisit our website soft-spoken senior to open up for posterity. “He ly enthusiastic and considerably able. You don’t always have to sound for morning-after recorded these interviews,” Carter says, “and less reserved. like an opera singer, thank heavens.” reviews and local gave them to these songwriters, John Leventhal “Oh. My. Stars!” says the B.C. naIt might be going too far to say arts news and Marc Cohn, who wrote the fi rst three songs. tive, on the line from his Toronto that, for Heppner, singing with the And they wrote those songs around some of the home. “I met Jimmy two years ago, Blind Boys of Alabama is like an anquotes that I made in the interview.” when we worked together for the first swered prayer, but for Carter this cross-culLeventhal also produced the record; his typ- time, and I just couldn’t believe it. Here I was, tural collaboration is entirely in keeping with ically meticulous sonics help make Almost Home singing with somebody who is the living em- his hopes for the world. one of the best latter-day Blind Boys recordings, bodiment of history.…I am so impressed with “If I had to pray for something right now, which include 2001’s Grammy-winning comeback that man, and his way of dealing with all the I would pray for peace,” he says, in a voice full of effort, Spirit of the Century, made with Americana things he’s come through. He is not mean- ageless resolve. “I would pray that we all could beicons David Lindley and John Hammond, and spirited or jaded in any way that I have found, come brothers and sisters, you know. That’s what There Will Be a Light, a 2004 collaboration with and he’s just a joy to be with.” I would pray for now.” soul-rock singer-guitarist Ben Harper. Heppner’s guest spot with the Blind Boys will Several of the new songs feature in the Blind focus on songs that he and the Alabamans have in Ben Heppner joins the Blind Boys of Alabama at Boys’ touring set list, but Vancouver audiences will common: staples of the looser side of the Chris- the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturget a special treat: operatic tenor Ben Heppner will tian songbook such as “Amazing Grace”, “I’ll Fly day (September 23).
THINGS TO DO
ARTS High five
Editor’s choice MUSCLEMAN You will laugh—a lot—during dance artist Shay Kuebler’s Feasting on Famine. In one early version of his satirical look at the muscleman industry, he went rabid dog on a Safeway chicken and turned body-shaving into crazed choreography. But you’ll also pick up darker messages about the maniacal obsession that drives guys to protein powders, pharmaceuticals, and endless iron-pumping. At the same time, you just have to marvel at Kuebler’s ability to turn musclehead poses into flowing, fully entertaining dance that defies categorization. Don’t miss it: this is a show that’ll appeal to viewers far outside dance audiences. Feasting on Famine happens next Wednesday to Saturday (September 27 to 30) at the Firehall Arts Centre.
Five events you just can’t miss this week
1
ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA (To October 8 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage) Strong reviews for this truly epic look at the AIDS era.
2
STEPH TOLEV (September 21 to 23 at the Comedy MIX) Sassy Canadian standup deals in hilariously brutal honesty.
3
HERITAGE (September 22 at Dunbar Ryerson United Church) The Vancouver Chamber Choir sings the praises of Canada’s choral composers.
4
EMBRYOTROPHIC CAVATINA (September 20 to 23 and 26 to 29 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre) Kokoro Dance at its haunting, butoh-inspired best.
5
LANG LANG WITH THE VSO (September 25 at the Orpheum) Watch as a piano superstar plays Rhapsody in Blue.
In the news FRINGE WINNERS Befitting its name, the Vancouver Fringe Festival’s sex-charged shadowpuppet show Multiple Organism won multiple awards at the event’s awards night September 17. The Mind of a Snail production not only took home the Georgia Straight Critics’ Pick against strong runners-up Ain’t True and Uncle False, Bombay Black, Hyena Subpoena, and Six Fine Lines, it also nabbed an artistic-risk award and a Cultchivating the Fringe Award—a prize from the Cultch for a show that has strong potential for further development. If you missed it, you can still catch it at the Public Market Pick of the Fringe holdover series at Performance Works. Multiple Organism happens September 24 at 6 p.m. Other picks are Swordplay (September 20 at 8:45 p.m.); An Arrangement of Shoes (September 21 at 8:45 p.m.); Cry-Baby: The Musical (September 23 at 6:45 p.m.); Bombay Black (September 23 at 9 p.m.); and Chris & Travis (September 24 at 7:45 p.m.). -
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 91
ARTS
Barltrop enjoys life in Oz > B Y A LE X A ND ER VA R TY
L
“Technical brilliance set off by artistic sensitivity.”
ts Ticke at t star
— Washington Post
$25
YEKWON SUNWOO piano Gold Medalist of the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 at 3pm CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this incredible young powerhouse pianist perform a program of
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eaving Vancouver was hard, Dale Barltrop admits, but in the end his decision to accept the first-violin chair with the Australian String Quartet made itself. “It was really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in a professional, salaried string quartet that is the only such group in Australia,” the Brisbaneborn former Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concertmaster explains, checking in from the University of Maryland, where the ASQ is launching a North American tour. “And to be able to combine that with my concertmaster position with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which I had been doing for a few years in conjunction with my job in Vancouver, was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. “I’m at a point in my life where I really wanted to extend myself,” Barltrop continues. “I wanted to do something that I hadn’t done before, which is to be in a string quartet. For many string players, that is the ultimate repertoire—not that it’s better or worse than the symphonic repertoire, but for me it was the Pandora’s box that I wanted to open.” He laughs, but in the background of his decision was another possible pack of problems. The Australian String Quartet had come close to dissolution in 2014, in the wake of an ugly and well-publicized internal dispute that led Australia’s classicalmusic-and-arts magazine, Limelight, to describe the Adelaide-based ensemble as “historically unstable”. This was information that Barltrop considered, but soon discarded. “It’s no secret in Australia that the ASQ has had trouble retaining its members over the last, I would say, five years,” he admits. “There was a period where they were very stable for about seven years; prior to that, they had quite a few personnel changes as well.
Former VSO first violinist Dale Barltrop returns with his quartet.
But one of the things that gave me confidence joining this particular combination was my prior relationship with all of the other members of the quartet, particularly the violist, Stephen King.…We have a long history, and I very much respect and admire the other two players, the second violinist and cellist, who are wonderful people. “We’re now 20 months into our new formation,” he adds, “and it feels like we have the right chemistry to make a go of it.” King is the only member remaining from the pre-controversy era, but one thing that hasn’t changed with the ASQ is its mandate: to promote Australian music and contemporary composition while honouring the classical tradition. The group’s certainly going to do that during its Vancouver visit; having played an excerpt of the late Peter Sculthorpe’s String
2017/18 Season
Nov 2 3 4 Eight Years of Silence | Cayetano Soto B.R.I.S.A. | Johan Inger
Feb 22 23 24 Romeo & Juliet | Medhi Walerski
May 10 11 12 BEGINNING AFTER | Cayetano Soto New Work | Emily Molnar Bill | Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar
2 2nd
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92 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
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Quartet No. 11: Jabiru Dreaming at a Music on Main concert on September 19, it will join Barltrop’s former employer for three shows at the Orpheum, where the large and the small ensembles combine to play music by John Adams and Edward Elgar. Adams’s Absolute Jest—a bold choice for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s season-opening concerts—should prove a particular test of the ASQ’s resolve. “It’ll be quite an adventure,” Barltrop admits. “But it’s a brilliantly crafted work, and very much a reimagining, a reworking of some Beethoven’s themes from his late string quartets.…And it’s certainly not, as the title might suggest, bastardizing or making fun of Beethoven. In fact, John Adams actually talks about the jest of the title in terms of its Latin meaning, which is ‘exploit’, or ‘deed’. So he talks about it being an exercising of one’s wit by means of the imagination. It’s a very clever work—and presents some challenges, because the combination of a string quartet and a symphony orchestra is almost unprecedented. “Of course, we also have Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, which we’re performing in the Lang Lang concert with the VSO,” he continues. “But in that work, the quartet is more a part of the larger string group. In the Adams, it’s very much a separate entity, so much so that he calls for light amplification of the string quartet, so that it can be heard above the full forces of the symphony. We’ll have our work cut out for us—but I think it’ll be a great way to kick off [VSO music director] Bramwell Tovey’s final season.” The Australian String Quartet joins the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum on Friday and Saturday (September 22 and 23), and will return to the same venue with the VSO and pianist Lang Lang on Monday (September 25).
PICK OF THE FRINGE
Bringing back your best-loved shows!
The Festival’s most popular shows are held over for your enjoyment! Missed them during the Festival? Sold out the night you tried to go? This is your last chance to catch these shows! Pick shows are chosen based on their popularity with audiences and critical acclaim.
2 2nd
2017 AN ARRANGEMENT OF SHOES
CRY-BABY: THE MUSICAL
Thursday Sept 21 at 8:45pm
Saturday Sept 23 at 6:45pm
Set in an Indian railway colony during the Gulf War, this poignant family portrait is a captivating solo performance about family and global history in the Age of Faith.
Allison Vernon-Williams is drawn across the tracks from her 1954 finishing-school background into a relationship with the orphaned Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a pack of rebel outcasts.
“Magnetic piece of theatre ... remarkable storytelling.” —Extra! Extra!
“This over-the-top satiric musical with a sincere and timeless message is a rocking good time.” —Vince Kanasoot, the Georgia Straight
SEPTEMBER 20 - 24 AT PERFORMANCE WORKS $25
Hey Georgia Straight Fringe fans, thanks for voting for us!
CHRIS & TRAVIS Sunday Sept 24 at 7:45pm Travis Bernhardt and Chris Ross scribble outside the lines of improv comedy with their high energy, hilarious and surreal twoman show. “Forty-five minutes of delightful absurd silliness.” —Penny Warwick, Two Cents & Two Pence
vancouverfringe.com/pick
BOMBAY BLACK BY ANOSH IRANI
MULTIPLE ORGANISM
Saturday Sept 23 at 9:00pm
Sunday Sept 24 at 6:00pm
The lives of an Indian exotic dancer and her embittered mother are altered when a blind stranger visits them. Anosh Irani’s Dora Award-winning Bombay Black is a searing play set in the bitter reality of India. Directed by Mumbai-born, Fringe award winning producer Rohit Chokhani.
Mind of a Snail’s risquést show yet! A gender and genre bending surrealist comedy for adults: live projections, puppetry, and an original musical score. Use your invagination!
“One of the most harrowing, unsettling, and mesmerizing plays I’ve ever seen.” —Andrea Warner, the Georgia Straight
PICK PLUS
“Even diehard fans of Mind of a Snail ... are in for a surprise—and a treat.” —Kathleen Oliver, the Georgia Straight
Can’t get enough Fringe? Enter Pick Plus: a series of hits handpicked for your enjoyment.
vancouverfringe.com/pickplus
GIVE IT UP
SHIRLEY GNOME:
Thursday, September 21 at 7:00pm
Friday, September 22 at 7:00pm
Friday, September 22 at 8:45pm
Explicitly honest songs about sex and human nature with wickedly witty lyrics and dark social commentary—and sequins.
Peter n’ Chris return to bring you a night of sketch, friendship, and laughs with a collection of their very best stuff.
What happened to Morgan Brayton’s big break? Did she miss it? Is this it? Where is her husband Scott Baio?
TAKING IT UP THE NOTCH
PETER N’ CHRIS’ BEST BITS
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 93
ARTS
The new work Saudade features an all-male cast in a piece partly inspired by Josh Beamish’s desire to explore his own relationships. Craig Foster photo.
Josh Beamish reflects on life on the road In Saudade, the dance artist questions the fleeting connections that come from living out of a suitcase > B Y JAN ET SMITH
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than the “women in pointe shoes” he had been working with so often of late. He was also driven by reviews of a sensual pas de deux he had created for two male dancers, which premiered in Britain in 2015 with two Royal Ballet artists in the roles. “Some of the reviews in the U.K. said they wished they were watching a man and a woman,” recalls Beamish. “I was put off by that: that there are thousands of male-female ballets, and that people would have the audacity to want more of that from an art form that is already locked into such heteronormative ways.” So often in ballet and elsewhere, when two men dance together, it’s in a fight scene, he adds. Instead, he wanted to explore more emotional, sensitive territory. To cast the piece, he drew on dancers he admires from all over the world. Sean Aaron Carmon, Graham Kaplan, David Norsworthy, Kevin Quinaou, Dominic Santia, and Tim Stickney have credits that span Nederlands Dans Theater and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The logistics of bringing them here has added to the choreographer’s already heavy administrative load: on the day we meet, Beamish is trying to text information to one of his dancers in Paris regarding the paperwork needed to come here. In bigger companies, there are staff to complete these tasks. In MOVE: the company, there is only Beamish, doing all the operating, administrative, and accounting duties. “I’ve transcended the need to sleep,” as he puts it. Amid all this work, he has decided not to dance in the piece himself. These days, he prefers to perform only solos, as he did working with choreographers Ame Henderson and Noam Gagnon last year. “When I perform in my own company I always feel like performing my work is number 37 on the to-do list,” he sighs. “I don’t feel I get enough rehearsal time to fully dissolve myself into the piece….I also love being off-stage in the audience and watching my work and crafting it and fine-tuning it.” Saudade will live on after the show is here in Vancouver; it’s featured next month at the Next Wave Festival at the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York City. At the same time, the ever-prolific Beamish says he’s developing two new works, including a new Giselle with dancers from American Ballet Theatre, reimagining the classic amid today’s social-media madness. For the foreseeable future, it seems, sleep will have to wait. -
o understand the fleeting relationships and sense of longing that permeate Josh Beamish’s new work for six male dancers, you need to understand where the choreographer finds himself, on the brink of 30. Once celebrated as Vancouver’s dance wunderkind—he launched his company at just 17—in his early 20s he moved on to work elsewhere, from New York City to Toronto to Montreal to London, England, and from the Banff Centre to Jacob’s Pillow to (this summer) the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation’s Pocantico Center. Today, he lives—quite literally—out of a suitcase. As the self-made artist puts it, he goes to where the funders are, the rehearsal spaces sit, and the dancers live, for any given project. Where does he mostly spend his time? “I don’t spend my time mostly anywhere,” the artist says with a small laugh, sitting in the empty Scotiabank Dance Theatre, where he’ll soon mount Saudade. “Largely, I’m this single entity that fits into different environments. So I don’t have any connections with people, on a day-today basis, that ground me into feeling rooted to a physical place. And that’s a really weird way to live your life. People are constantly changing; places around me are always new.” All of these ideas filter into Saudade, which is named for the Portuguese word for an unattainable desire. In a series of flowing, fleeting duets, haunting solos, and group passages, Beamish explores a yearning to connect and the spectres of unresolved relationships—all set to Hildur Guðnadóttir’s melancholic cello score. He’s clearly drawing from personal experience. “You’ll see in the relationships [on-stage] the things that I’m longing for,” he says. “I might not have a boyfriend and a dog again.…I have had times in my life where I question whether I have made the right choices. But the piece is about that questioning and feeling this hyperawareness of options and choices. If you commit to being in a relationship with one person, you lose what you may get from every other single person you might ever meet. I also question whether I can even be in a relationship again. What happens when you release yourself from the traditional understanding of being a couple and having a home?” Significantly, the piece is performed by an all-male troupe—a choice that also reflects Beamish’s own experiences, he emphasizes. He Saudade is at the Scotiabank Dance was inspired, in part, by a desire to Centre from Wednesday to Saturday choreograph “men in socks” rather (September 20 to 23). 94 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
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olin Mochrie and his wife of 28 years, Deb McGrath, have had successful independent careers in Canadian comedy but have also worked together throughout their relationship. Are they the king and queen of Canadian comedy? The duke and duchess, maybe? What would they say? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, of course, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say anything because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d sound like pretentious gits,â&#x20AC;? says McGrath, on the phone from her home in Toronto. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay if you say it. I would say weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the lord and lady.â&#x20AC;? Mochrie pipes in on the other line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously, Deb has thought about this for a long time. I have nothing.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Or we could be the footman and the upstairs maid of Canadian comedy,â&#x20AC;? says McGrath. The couple met in 1987 at Second City in Toronto, after Mochrie moved out there from Vancouver at the behest of his buddy Ryan Stiles. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once I left, the city really boomed. I like to take a little bit of credit for that,â&#x20AC;? he says.) McGrath found herself in the role of directing new improvisers in the touring company, after two years there herself, followed by three more on the main stage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deb hired me after a very gruelling audition,â&#x20AC;? says Mochrie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Colin was my anchor in the show,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could always depend on him. Then one day I went, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hmmâ&#x20AC;Ś I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something else.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So I shamelessly pursued him. Typical of most men, he was clueless as a post.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems like it was a lot of work on her end,â&#x20AC;? he says. The funnyman, best known for his many years on the improv vehicle Whose Line Is It Anyway?, studied acting at Studio 58 in Vancouver after graduating from Killarney Secondary (where he starred in a high-school produc-
Improv royalty Deb McGrath and Colin Mochrie have been married for 28 years, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play off that rapport in a charity show at the Centennial Theatre.
tion of Dracula Baby). In December, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be going back to his roots in legitimate theatre with the role of the Fool in Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s King Lear in Toronto. With actual lines to memorize, he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just show up and wing it the way he does when he hits the road with fellow Whose Line alum Brad Sherwood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see,â&#x20AC;? he deadpans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I get the gist, I think that should be all right.â&#x20AC;? There will be no lines to learn for his appearance with McGrath at a benefit show at the Centennial Theatre for the North Shore Disability Resource Centre. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just us having fun, but with the rapport of our marriage and sort of off-the-cuff kind of stuff with improv games, very much using the audience to be a part of it,â&#x20AC;? says McGrath,
who played Mayor Popowicz on Little Mosque on the Prairie. The two give generously of their time to many charities. They decided years ago to work for organizations they had a personal stake in or that needed help getting the word out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Debâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cancer doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need us,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? says Mochrie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of the top charities donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need us, because they have great spokespeople and they do have a presence out there.â&#x20AC;? Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good people, as you might expect from comedy royalty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being lord and lady, we have expectations made of us,â&#x20AC;? quips Mochrie. NSDRC Live! 2017, featuring Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath, plays North Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centennial Theatre on Saturday (September 23).
MOVIES ARTS MUSIC THEATRE FOOD
TERRA AND BEYOND, WITH
CHRIS HADFIELD AND DANNY MICHEL
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Share Colonel Chris Hadfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viewpoint â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond the Terra,â&#x20AC;? with music and inspiring images from the International Space Station, performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. As a special guest, Chris welcomes acclaimed singer/songwriter Danny Michel. Together, they explored the High Arctic aboard the Russian ice-breaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, resulting in an album that features Hadfield and Michel in collaboration on multiple songs, which will also be featured in this unique and exciting Pops concert. @VSOrchestra
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Anita Aguirre Nieveras Joanne Arnott Manda Aufochs Gillespie Paula Ayer Carleigh Baker Adèle Barclay Dan Bar-el Wendy Barron Gurjinder Basran Trevor Battye Judson Beaumont Meghan Bell Koyali Berman Kate Bird Selina Boan Dennis E. Bolen Leslie Bootle Eric Bowers Tim Bowling Trine Bronken Chris Bullock Nicola I. Campbell Bridget Canning Terry Ann Carter Aidan Chafe Janie Chang Aaron Chapman Circus Lab Katherine Collins Stephen Collis Chelsea Comeau Lucy Dabbs Jonathon Dalton Joseph Dandurand Amber Dawn Rodney DeCroo Dina Del Bucchia Rachelle Delaney
Linda DeMeulemeester William Deverell Wendy Donawa Leanne Dunic Janet Dunnett Meagan Dyer Sarah Ellis Mercedes Eng Rachel Enomoto Emma Field Susan Fitzgerald Julie Flett Lee Edward Födi Bree Galbraith Rhonda Ganz Kallie George Meharoona Ghani Frank Goudie Heidi Greco Louise Green Darren Groth Shazia Hafiz Ramji Heather Haley Robyn Harding Carollyne Haynes Ace Hillyer Ryon Holmedal Dietrich Kalteis Sheena Kamal Hiro Kanagawa Azmina Kassam Anna Ling Kaye Jónína Kirton Theresa Kishkan Chelene Knight Elee Kraljii Gardiner Danielle LaFrance Evelyn Lau
Grant Lawrence Eve Lazarus Alex Leslie Miriam Libicki Julia Lin Tanya Lloyd Kyi Tyler Antonio Lynch Jami Macarty Dan MacIsaac John MacLachlan Gray Sandy Manj John Mavin Susan McCaslin Lori McNulty Anita Miettunen Mahtab Narsimhan Ulrike Narwani Larry Nicholson Bonnie Nish Suzanne Norman Shahla Nygaard Peter Nygaard Carmen Ostrander Gunargie O’Sullivan Shekhar Paleja Arleen Paré Marguerite Pigeon Debra Purdy Kong Ahmad Danny Ramadan Angela Rebrec Carol Reid Shaun Robinson Merrilee Robson Renee Rodin Doug Sarti Ariadne Sawyer Jayne Seagrave
Cynthia Sharp Timothy Shay Lori Sherritt-Fleming Kathryn Shoemaker Catherine Shrubshall Michael V. Smith Jen Sookfong Lee Spillious Ashley Spires George Stanley David Starr Jeff Steudel Bevan Thomas Colin Upton Kozue Uzawa
Vancouver Youth Theatre Lara Varesi Yilin Wang Irene Watts RC Weslowski Iona Whishaw Sam Wiebe Sho Wiley Megan Williams Sheri-D Wilson Elaine Woo Lozan Yamolky Onjana Yawnghwe Beryl Young
More Events: Tuesday, Sept. 19 – Banyen Books & Sound (6:30 pm), VPL Britannia Branch (6:30 pm) | Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Banyen
Books & Sound (6:30 pm), The Cottage Bistro (7:00 pm) | Thursday, Sept. 21 – Banyen Books & Sound (7:00 pm), VPL n ca mat ct Strathcona Branch (7:00 pm) | Friday, Sept. 22 – Christianne’s Lyceum (6:30 pm), Historic Joy Kogawa House (7:30 pm) | Saturday, Sept. 23 – PNE Forum (9:00 am), ArtStarts Gallery (11:00 am), Carnegie Community Centre (11:00 am)
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 97
ARTS
Lois Anderson flies high in Angels in America: Perestroika, a production whose rampant theatricality rarely flags over almost four hours. David Cooper photo.
Epic Angels in America soars on stellar acting T HEAT RE ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART TWO: PERESTROIKA By Tony Kushner. Directed by Kim Collier. An Arts Club Theatre Company production. At the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage on Thursday, September 14. Continues until October 8
For Perestroika, the second inof Tony Kushner’s award-winning play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, the Arts Club uses the same cast and creative team as it did in its acclaimed production of Part One: Millennium Approaches last spring. Both works are nothing short of iconic, being hailed by some as the most important pieces of theatre in the 20th century. There’s always a danger in mounting Very. Important. Works.—a danger the talented director Kim Collier and her highly skilled team deftly skirted in Part One. Part Two is all the stronger for it. The nature of progress and the titular perestroika (“restructuring” in Russian) is the overarching theme here, and it truly resonates in the tangle of small, human moments playing out between the eight actors on-stage. Audiences skittish about the show’s nearly four-hour duration and dual intermissions shouldn’t be, despite the ushers’ pointed reminders of the show’s length as they scan each ticket. (They should stop that.) Perestroika is tight. It may seem strange to say about such a lengthy play, but the show’s rampant theatricality rarely flags, nor does it come across as a marathon for the stellar cast or, more importantly, the audience. We begin just after the events in Part One, the set made of ruins of the marble-columned backdrop from
2 stallment
the previous production. In a brilliant touch, a single flame flickers throughout the production at stage right, a beacon in a fog of conflict. An angel (Lois Anderson) has appeared to Prior Walter (Damien Atkins), an isolated gay man dying alone from AIDS in 1980s New York. Unsure of whether his otherworldly visitor is a fever-induced dream or a metaphysical miracle, Prior is nonetheless heralded as “a prophet” and told, in short, that a bored God has abandoned Heaven, and that humanity needs to stop moving forward in order for Him to return to His rightful place. While the Angel hopes for humanity to grind to a halt, the story lines are frenetic. Prior’s former partner, Louis Ironson (Ryan Beil), who was unable to cope with Prior’s disease, has taken up with Joe Pitt (Craig Erickson), a closeted Mormon law clerk whose latent homosexuality has upset the lives of the two women in his life. His naive wife, Harper (Celine Stubel), is now self-medicating, hallucinating, and getting arrested, and Joe’s mother, Hannah (Gabrielle Rose), has flown in from Utah to confront her son, who came out to her in a drunken late-night phone call. Meanwhile, Joe’s mentor, closeted real-life Republican icon and “polestar of human evil” Roy Cohn (Brian Markinson), is also dying of AIDS and using his political connections to score experimental medication administered by his nurse, Belize (Stephen Jackman-Torkoff), who just happens to be Prior’s best friend. The acting on display is spectacular, with Atkins’s Prior and Rose’s Hannah as standouts. It’s so good, in fact, that the show’s one weakness becomes even more obvious: the bizarre and unsexy chemistry between Beil and Erickson. see page 100
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98 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
BE TR AD OF DI FE TI AD NH ONA DE EIT L D! SH OW
JOSHUA BEAMISH/MOVETHECOMPANY
SAUDADE Photo: Craig Foster
September 20-23, 2017 | 8pm Scotiabank Dance Centre
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SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 99
Angels in America
from page 98
Louis and Joe’s initial hookup is so agonizingly and unintentionally awkward that the actors only seem to become comfortable with each other when it’s practically time for them to break up. While not a small matter in a play about AIDS and homosexuality, it’s really the only blemish on an extraordinary production. > STEVEN SCHELLING
THE CHRISTIANS By Lucas Hnath. Directed by Sarah Rodgers. At Pacific Theatre on Friday, September 15. Continues until October 7
The Christians depicts a community divided—but unless you’re a particular type of believer, it might be hard to buy into its central conflict. “What happens when you tell a congregation they don’t need to believe?” That’s exactly what Pastor Paul does when he gives a sermon to his flock on the day that they’re celebrating having paid off the debt on their megachurch. Paul has had an epiphany, and he’s uncomfortable excluding non-Christians from God’s love. “We are no longer a congregation that believes in Hell, that says ‘My way is the only way,’ ’’ Pastor Paul announces. “We are no longer that kind of church.” But this “radical change” doesn’t go over well with everyone. Associate Pastor Joshua argues with Pastor Paul on theological grounds, eventually leaving to form his own church. Elder Jay represents the board’s business concerns: if the numbers go down, so do the revenues. Congregant Jenny brings up ethical questions: why did Paul wait until the debt was paid off to give his sermon? Has she—and have her considerable tithes—been used? Even Paul’s wife, Elizabeth, can’t unconditionally support him. The church setting animates director Sarah Rodgers’s production. The opening moments are exuberance itself: a 15-person choir sings and sways to some rousing hymns, and congregants hang on Pastor
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100 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
Tré Cotten brings heart to the debate in The Christians. Jalen Saip photo.
Paul’s sermon and its slick visual projections. But the energy drops once the schism takes over. Part of the problem is Lucas Hnath’s convention of using handheld microphones for all the dialogue; in Rodgers’s program notes, she cites his contention that “dialogue is far more interesting spoken into a mic.” Hmm. Not with lines like “I feel so alone because where you are is so different from where I am” or “Why do I believe what I believe? I believe because of the feeling.” Microphones make sense in the pulpit, but they are no substitute for poetry and subtext. But Rodgers and her cast make this curious text mostly work. Tré Cotten as Joshua, Allan Morgan as Jay, Erin Ormond as Elizabeth, and newcomer Mariam Barry as Jenny all bring heart and conviction to their debates with the pastor, played with calm certainty by an understated Ron Reed. Stancil Campbell’s set features pews on one side and a platform for the choir on the other, each backed by crosses handsomely lit by Itai Erdal, managing to evoke a big church in the venue’s tiny church basement. Choir director Lonnie Delisle and his rotating lineup of choristers deserve huge credit for delivering the show’s opening excitement. I just wish the drama were sustained. > KATHLEEN OLIVER
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896 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, T: 604.254.2543 or 1.888.WYM.WARE
SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO AN EXCITING NEW SEASON! HERITAGE Singing Canada’s Choral Songs 8pm Friday, September 22, 2017 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
THE MASTERS Great Choral Music 8pm Friday, October 13, 2017 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
NEW VISTAS The Latest in Choral Music 3pm and 7:30pm Saturday, November 4, 2017 Christ Church Cathedral
REJOICE! European Carols & Readings 8pm Friday, December 1, 2017 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS
Bach and More for Christmas 8pm Saturday, December 16, 2017 The Orpheum
RIVERS OF LIGHT
Choral Explorations I with Timothy Shantz 8pm Friday, January 26, 2018 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
MAESTRO! The Annual Conductors’ Concert 8pm Saturday, February 17, 2018 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
MOODS AND MODES Emotion in Music 8pm Friday, March 9, 2018 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
RACHMANINOV VESPERS and Lauridsen Lux aeterna 8pm Friday, March 30, 2018 The Orpheum
LIGHT TRANSFORMING
Choral Explorations II with Michael Zaugg 8pm Friday, April 20, 2018 Dunbar Ryerson United Church
Subscribe to all 10 wonderful concerts or choose four or more – it’s up to you. Call for your season brochure 604.738.6822.
vancouverchamberchoir.com
102 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
ARTS
MUSÉE MARMOTTAN MONET
CL AUDE
MONET
Secret Garden Until Oct 1, 2017
Extended hours for the final week vanartgallery.bc.ca
Roxanne Charles’s Silently Suffocated, with a woven mask that covers the face of the mannequin, is beautifully crafted yet disturbing. Kenji Nagai photo.
Coast Salish art takes on contemporary edge VISUAL AR TS INTANGIBLE: MEMORY AND INNOVATION IN COAST SALISH ART At the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art until December 10
Intangible is a small exhibition with a large theme. Tucked into temporary exhibition space at the Bill Reid Gallery, it spotlights the work of six Coast Salish artists: Aaron Nelson-Moody, lessLIE (Leslie Sam), Marvin Oliver, Ostwelve (Ronnie Dean Harris), Roxanne Charles, and Tracy Williams (Sesemiya). Their innovative art ranges through nontraditional media and materials, from video and performance to blown glass and hammered copper. At the same time, these artists are reconstructing cultural knowledge through the teachings of their elders and connections with ancestral lands. During the recent media preview of the show, guest curator Sharon Fortney addressed individual works while also speaking about the difficulties contemporary Coast Salish artists face in recovering “intangible” cultural knowledge. Much has been lost in the past century and a half through government suppression of First Nations cultural expression—cultural genocide, really, although Fortney didn’t use that term. Another element of intangibility relates to the intensely private nature of many Coast Salish ceremonies and their attendant masks. Coast Salish territory, which includes the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria and large swaths of upper Washington state and southern British Columbia, is peopled by some 70 distinct nations and tribes, not all of them recognized by government authorities. Since contact and through periods of intense urban development, Indigenous groups have been forcibly displaced, villages razed and paved over, and belongings carried off to museums on the other side of the continent. For the six artists represented in the show, recovery of cultural knowledge has been essential to their practices. One of the most powerful statements about the difficulties of rediscovering and reclaiming what has been lost, and moving forward with a new understanding of what is possible, is Ostwelve’s video Speak of What You Know. A hip-hop and spoken-word artist, actor, director, and composer of Stó:lō/St’át’mc/Lil’wat/N’laka’pamux ancestry, he told visitors at the preview that he uses media art to “totemize” his
2
experience. His work takes viewers through lands that were sacred to past generations of his family, including the confluence of the Fraser and Harrison rivers. At the same time, his narration uses metaphors of baskets, boxes, and the shattered fragments of cultural knowledge to describe his creative journey. Also moving and evocative are costumes and performances created by Roxanne Charles, a mixed-media artist from Semiahmoo First Nation. Here and Now is a voluminous dress, woven with community involvement from yellow and red cedar and lengths of recycled fabric. It is accompanied by a video of Charles’s performance wearing it, and speaks to a number of social and political issues, including violence against Indigenous women. Another costume, Silently Suffocated, is both beautiful and disturbing. It is woven out of long, eloquent strips of indigenous materials such as cedar as well as strands of invasive plants, such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, found in Semiahmoo territory. A woven mask entirely covers the face of the mannequin on which the costume is displayed, demonstrating how it would obscure the features, blind the eyes, and silence the voice of whoever wears it. Cowichan artist lessLIE also spoke at the media preview, describing the evolution of his three striking paintings, each one seamlessly integrating Coast Salish design forms, such as “trigons, ovals, and crescents”, into corporate logos conspicuously found in Coast Salish territory. These include the Vancouver Canucks’ killer whale, which lessLIE has made more “culturally correct”; McDonald’s golden arches, into which he has inserted salmon heads and the suggestion of reversion to a healthier Indigenous diet; and the Starbucks mermaid, to which he has again appended salmon, along with a pattern of ocean waves. These re-appropriated designs pose questions, the artist says, about how Coast Salish people “fit into capitalist society”. “These contemporary works are about reawakening memory, honouring the vitality of Coast Salish art traditions, and challenging visitors to consider the issues affecting community members’ lives today,” Fortney writes in the exhibition catalogue. Then she asks us to leave our preconceptions at the door. “Respect and the ability to listen are key to understanding the messages these artists wish to share.” > ROBIN LAURENCE
Presenting Sponsor
Major Sponsor
Collaboratively organized by the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Vancouver Art Gallery
Supporting Sponsor
Claude Monet, Nymphéas, 1903, oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, Photo: © Bridgeman Giraudon/Press
NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ORCHESTRA
PRESENTS:
LIFE REFLECTED
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 7:30PM , THE CENTRE, 777 HOMER STREET, VANCOUVER Alexander Shelley conductor Erin Wall soprano Monique Mojica actor Donna Feore creative producer and director ZOSHA DI CASTRI Dear Life* JOCELYN MORLOCK My Name is Amanda Todd NICOLE LIZÉE Bondarsphere JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk** *Words and lyrics adapted from the story by Alice Munro. Adaptation by Merilyn Simonds
Four Canadian composers have created compelling musical portraits of four exceptional Canadian women. Roberta Bondar, Rita Joe, Alice Munro, and Amanda Todd are the inspiration behind Life Reflected, a unique symphonic and multi-media celebration of youth, promise, and courage. The National Arts Centre Orchestra commissioned four works by Zosha Di Castri, Jocelyn Morlock, Nicole Lizée, and John Estacio to create its largest production ever. The staging includes stunning projections, which immerse the audience in sound, motion picture, photography, and graphic design. Opening Concert of ISCM World New Music Days 2017.
**Commissioned for the NationaL Arts Centre Orchestra to commemorate the 75th birthday of the Right Honourable Joe Clark, P.C., C.C., A.O.E by his family
The National Arts Centre Orchestra Canada 150 Tour is made possible with leadership support from Tour Patrons Gail and David O’Brien, Presenting Supporters Alice and Grant Burton, Supporting Partners Peng Lin and Yu Gu, Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, OBE, Hon RCM and Digital Partner Facebook MEDIA SPONSOR
@VSOrchestra
TICKETS: vancouversymphony.ca
604.876.3434
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 103
Photo credit: Roxanne Charles, Blanket Dance. Photo by Edward Westerhuis.
being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. Sep 27–Oct 6, Orpheum Annex (823 Seymour). Tix $5-35, info www.thepillowman.ca/.
YOUR PRINCESS IS IN ANOTHER CASTLE Poetry meets political satire in a postapocalyptic metaculture where reality is live-streamed. Sep 27, 7:30-9 pm, Heritage Grill (447 Columbia St., New West). Admission by donation, info www.facebook.com/wayoffwed/.
ar ts/ timeout THEATRE DANCE MUSIC COMEDY LITERARY EVENTS ET CETERA GALLERIES MUSEUMS OUT OF TOWN
HAPPY DAYS UBC Theatre and Film presents Samuel Beckett’s play that explores the complexities of relationships. Sep 27-30, 7:30 pm, Frederic Wood Theatre (6354 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $15/10, info www.theatrefilm.ubc.ca/.
< < 2ONGOING < MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Bard < on the Beach Shakespeare Festival < presents William Shakespeare’s comedy < set in 1959 Italy, where a group of actors and filmmakers celebrates the wrap of < their latest movie. To Sep 23, Bard on < the Beach (1000 Chestnut). Tix from $21, < info www.bardonthebeach.org/.
THEATRE 2OPENINGS PICK PLUS As part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, take in shows like The Merkin Sisters (Sep 20), Give It Up (Sep 21), Shirley Gnome: Taking It Up the Notch (Sep 22), and Peter N’ Chris’ Best Bits (Sep 22). Sep 20-22, Performance Works (1218 Cartwright, Granville Island). Info www.vancouverfringe.com/. THE INVENTOR OF ALL THINGS U.K. slam poet Jem Rolls tells the story of the forgotten physicist who wrecked the Nazi bomb. Sep 20, 7:30-9 pm, Heritage Grill (447 Columbia St., New West). Admission by donation, info www.facebook.com/ wayoffwed/. SHIRLEY GNOME: TAKING IT UP THE NOTCH As part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, Vancouver cabaret-comedian Shirley Gnome sings honest songs about sex and human nature. Sep 22, 7 pm, Performance Works (1218 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $25, info www.van couverfringe.com/pickplus/. TRESPASS: A STORYTELLING EVENT Dark Glass Theatre presents a performance of true personal stories of reconciliation, love, betrayal, and hope. Sep 24, 7 pm, Pacific Theatre (1440 W. 12th). Tix $25/20, info www.darkglasstheatre.com/. THE PILLOWMAN Martin McDonagh’s play tells the story of a writer who is
THE WINTER’S TALE Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival presents William Shakespeare’s drama in which the love of two young people becomes the catalyst for reunion, redemption, and a family’s healing. To Sep 22, Bard on the Beach (1000 Chestnut). Tix from $21, info www.bardon thebeach.org/2017/the-winters-tale/. MR. FOOTE’S OTHER LEG United Players presents Ian Kelly’s play about a satirist in Georgian London who finds himself at the sharp end of attacks from the press. To Sep 24, 8-10 pm, Jericho Arts Centre. Tix $20-26, info www.unitedplayers.com/.
don’t miss out! For up-to-the-minute, searchable Arts Time Out listings, visit
www.straight.com
ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART TWO: PERESTROIKA The Arts Club Theatre Company presents director Kim Collier’s version of playwright Tony Kushner’s work that sees characters wrestle with their ideologies as the AIDS epidemic rages in 1980s America. To Oct 8, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Info www.artsclub.com/. STEEL MAGNOLIAS Director Mitchell Mackay’s version of Robert Harling’s play sees the women of Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana, discuss life, love, and the true meaning of friendship. To Sep 23, 8-10 pm,
see next page
> Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < BEAUTY ON THE BEACH
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 WHERE: Kitsilano Beach It’s 2 o’clock in the warm afternoon, and I’m walking my dog through Kitsilano beach. I notice your curly, brown hair from a distance and my chest immediately feels heavier. As I approach, Your head turns and we meet eyes for at least 3 seconds. Your lovely, walnut coloured eyes stop me in my tracks, and I lose grip of the leash in my left hand. I scramble to gain control of my energized pup, and you smile as wide as a Georgia peach. You turn back around, and I’m left sweating and slightly embarrassed. I don’t know your name, but I can only imagine it sounding like Lisa or Joy. If you ever read this, know that I’d love to take you to dinner. Getting to know you and hearing your voice would be total magic.
ROAD CYCLIST, WITH YOUR NEW BIKE, PASSED YOU RIDING SOUTH BOUND ON BURRARD BRIDGE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 WHERE: Kitsilano Cornwall and Burrard I passed you on the Burrard Bridge riding south bound, we met up at the lights at Cornwall and Burrard, you asked me about my Wahoo fitness tracker, and said you just bought your bike that day, you were riding out to Richmond via Cypress, would love to go on a ride with you. Hopefully you see this.
CHAMBAR WAITER
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 WHERE: Chambar You were floating around several tables on Sunday night, but you didn’t make enough stops at mine :( You looked a little like Rami Malek (for lack of a better description) but with the most gorgeous eyes. I was the girl with bangs sitting with a large group and making eyes at you. Hope you see this because I want to see you again :)
APPLE STORE SAVAGE LOVE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 WHERE: Apple Metrotown We discussed our love of Savage Love. You told me about his podcast and that he was coming to Vancouver. Wanna grab a coffee?
BON’S BREAKFAST SPECIAL/BACON+ 1 PANCAKE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 WHERE: BON’S They say never fall for your waitress, oops... too late. I’m a single semi-regular customer who is always taken aback by your kindness and warm smile. We spoke about repeating names to remember them, your's “Musica” you said has a long story behind it, I’d gladly make the time too hear that. I love stories, often I’m writing some of my own at my table. Perhaps you’re taken by some super hip man bun hunk musician, but if by the stars you're not, maybe a walk & talk through the art gallery?
YOUR SMILE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 WHERE: Save-On-Foods on Fraser Highway in Langley A too-brief encounter as I walked into the parking lot. I (petite redhead) was balancing a huge cake and noticed you (tall, chocolatey, handsome) walking toward me. Your amazing, warm, sexy smile is still etched in my memory. I’d love to connect - maybe over a glass of wine...
RICHMOND WALMART
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 WHERE: Richmond Walmart To the guy in the grey t-shirt and baseball cap I saw at the dairy aisle at Walmart... I’m the Asian girl with the leg tattoo. Even though I think you were with your gf I would love to take you out for drinks :) hope you get a chance to see this.
CREEKSIDE COMM CTR
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 WHERE: Creekside CC You work at the front desk, and this is the second time you’ve been super awesome and helpful. You have dark hair and were wearing a white and black striped shirt, but I didn’t catch your name. I’d like to get you know you better, you seem super rad. I wanted to say goodbye when our event ended, but you’d left for the day already.
BEST SMILE OF THE DAY...
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 WHERE: Tre Galli Gelato To the cute guy working at Tre Galli Gelato on Saturday afternoon, your smile brightened my day!
STUNNING ON THE SEABUS
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 WHERE: Seabus to North Van You sat across from me on the 10:45pm Seabus heading to North Van. You in black skirt, sexy black heels, a pink shawl and pearl earrings. We shared a couple of glances before we got off and shared a laugh at the bigger girl getting stuck in the turnstile at Lonsdale Quay. I wanted to tell you how stunning you looked but was afraid you would have thought I was a dirty old man, I’m only 46. You got on the 228 and got out on 3rd and St. Andrews, we glanced again as the bus drove away, can't stop thinking of how beautiful you looked.
BONOBO DANCING , TURNED AND POOF
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 WHERE: BoNobo I was wearing a pink linen shirt, dancing with friends. It was your first Bonobo Show, I failed, wanted to get your number or give you mine, coffee -stroll. I am quite fun and it seems you are too.
Visit straight.com to post your FREE I Saw You _ 104 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
The Theatre at Hendry Hall (815 E. 11th St.). Tix $18/16, info www.northvanplayers.ca/. HILDA’S YARD Metro Theatre presents Norm Foster’s comedy about a husband and wife that have to adjust when their kids move back in with them. To Oct 7, 8-10 pm, Metro Theatre (1370 SW Marine). Tix $25/22, info www.metrotheatre.com/. THE CHRISTIANS Pacific Theatre presents the story of a religious congregation that grapples with the mysteries of faith, certainty, and what happens after we die. To Oct 7, Pacific Theatre (1440 W. 12th). Tix $2036.50, info www.pacifictheatre.org/.
DANCE 2THIS WEEK VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FLAMENCO FESTIVAL Take in workshops and ticketed performances featuring a lineup of local and international flamenco artists like Fuensanta “La Moneta”, Calle Verdi, Christina Tremblay, Fin de Fiesta,
SAUDADE The Dance Centre presents choreographer Joshua Beamish and MOVE: the company in a new ensemble work featuring a cello score by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Sep 20-23, 8 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie). Tix $32/24, info www.thedancecentre.ca/events/global_ dance_connections_2017_2018/. HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE The Dance Centre presents the dance group in a performance of authentically recreated social and theatrical European Baroque dances. Part of the Discover Dance! noon series. Sep 21, 12 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie). Tix $14/12, info www.thedancecentre.ca/ events/discover_dance_2017_2018. NEW WORKS SEASON LAUNCH New Works launches its 20th season with three duets by six dancers, including Zhara Shahab and Katie Lowen, Erika Mitsuhashi and Francesca Frewer, and Jessica Wilke and Laura Avery. Sep 21, 8-9 pm, Orpheum Annex (823 Seymour). Tix $25/20, info www.newworks.ca/.
VA N C O U V E R PL AY H O U S E , 6 0 0 H A M I LT O N S T R E E T
MUSIC
2017/2018 SEASON
2THIS WEEK
Together We Sing
TIMOTHY CHOOI Music in the Morning presents the Canadian violinist. Sep 20-21, 10:30-11:30 am, Dunbar Ryerson United Church (2205 W. 45th). $38/35/17, info www.musicinthemorning.org/.
VANCOUVERBACHCHOIR.COM
SALISH SINGING AND DRUMMING FALL 2017 WORKSHOPS Learn social songs, drumming, and dance with composer, producer, and traditional Lil’wat singer Russell Wallace. Sep 21, 7-9 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Free admission, info www.sfu. ca/sfuwoodwards/events/events1/20172018-fall/SalishSingingAndDrumming Sept2017.html.
see page 107
The Green Fog A San Francisco Fantasia OCT. 10, 8PM, CENTRE FOR THE ARTS This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world-renowned Kronos Quartet perform a live score to a dreamlike new version of the “greatest film of all time.” Originally commissioned by San Francisco Film Society, this inventive reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo comes courtesy of mad genius Guy Maddin and co-directors Evan and Galen Johnson. With the Kronos Quartet performing an original score by composer Jacob Garchik, The Green Fog conjures a parallel universe version of Hitchcock’s 1958 classic through a kaleidoscopic assemblage of Bay Area-based found footage drawn from studio classics, noir gems, documentaries, experimental curios and ‘70s primetime television. Additional Guests in Attendance: Co-directors Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson. Tickets $35-$55 Available at: goviff.org/thegreenfog VIFF Passes, Ticket Packs and Exchange Vouchers are not valid for this special event.
Premier Partner
OCTOBER 1, 2017 | 11AM
FEASTING ON FAMINE Radical System Art presents Shay Kuebler’s story of one man’s journey through the extremes of bodybuilding and health fitness. Sep 27-30, Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova). Tix from $25, info www.firehallartscentre. ca/onstage/feasting-on-famine/.
Kronos Quartet Performs Live At VIFF!
Media Sponsor
“COOP HAS THAT EXTR A SOMETHING THAT LETS A PIANIST BECOME A POET.” –MONTREAL GAZETTE
Community Partner
LYDIA AVSEC/ COPILOT DESIGN
A LOT TO LIKE There’s much to recommend Studio 58’s mounting of Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy As You Like It, but let’s start with the creative team the theatre school has recruited. At the helm is director Michael Scholar Jr., who’s staged everything from the loud, visceral Hard Core Logo: Live at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival to Neil LaBute’s provocative Fat Pig. Elsewhere, inspired designer Lauchlin Johnston conjures the Forest of Arden, and Bard on the Beach master Mara Gottler creates the costumes. The show runs from next Thursday (September 28) to October 15 at Studio 58, Langara College.
KOKORO DANCE: EMBRYOTROPHIC CAVATINA The local butoh ensemble presents the world premiere of a new work choreographed by Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi. Sep 20-29, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews). Tix from $25, info www.kokoro.ca/.
PIANO
straight choices
and Flamenco Rosario. Presented by Flamenco Rosario. To Sep 24, various Vancouver venues. Tix from free to $60, info www.vancouverflamencofestival.org/.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH CHOIR
DEC 3 2017 AT 2PM I ORPHEUM THEATRE
HANDEL’S
MESSIAH MAHLER SY M P H O N Y N O. 8 DEC 9 2017 AT 8PM I ORPHEUM THEATRE
FEB 17 2018 AT 8PM I ORPHEUM THEATRE
VANCOUVER BACH CHOIR MEETS
ORCHID ENSEMBLE
MAY 4 2018 AT 8PM I ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH
Premier Supporters
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 105
‘Where Jazz Meets the Spirit” PRESENTS:
AT THE MOVIES
Come celebrate 25 years...
...with amazing
Jazz Vespers artists
RAISING the ROOF A BENEFIT CONCERT
Saturday, September 30, 2017, 7:30pm St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver $25 General Admission / $100 VIP Seating (includes reception with the musicians) Tickets available at www.standrewswesley.com
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 7PM & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2PM, ORPHEUM Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor Now audiences can experience the full ground-breaking film Jurassic Park as never before: projected in HD with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing the magnificent John Williams score LIVE to picture.
presents
One of the most thrilling science fiction adventures ever made, and featuring one of John Williams’ most iconic and beloved musical scores, Jurassic Park transformed the movie-going experience for an entire generation and became the highest-grossing film of all time in 1993, winning three Academy Awards®. Welcome...to Jurassic Park! MEDIA SPONSOR
@VSOrchestra
TICKETS: vancouversymphony.ca
604.876.3434 misery made me…
2 2nd
2 SHOWS ONLY
Friday, October 6, 2017, 8 PM Saturday, October 7, 2017, 8 PM
ORPHEUM BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Photo: Amanda Skuse
2017
Scotiabank Dance Centre
677 Davie St, Vancouver (Faris Family Studio)
Loosely based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Monsters is a strongly anti-bullying, anti-violence, anti-racism play designed for young people aged 12 & up, and performed by youth.
www.miscellaneousproductions.ca
3rd SHOW ADDED! JOHN MULANEY
Thank you, Vancouver! THE TOUR
QUEEN ELIZAZABETH THEATRE
NEW SHOW!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9 AT 7:00 PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 7:00 & 9:30 PM QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
2 2nd
TICKETMASTER 1-855-985-5000 ticketmaster.ca
2017
BEST LIVE PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
vancouvercivictheatres.com/events
106 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
Media partner
HAHAHA.COM/MULANEY
BEST 2 MEDIA, ARTS & CULTURE ART GALLERY
1. Vancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby Street 2. The Museum of Anthropology at UBC 6393 Northwest Marine Drive 3. Bill Reid Gallery 639 Hornby Street LIVE PERFORMING-ARTS VENUE
1. Queen Elizabeth Theatre 650 Hamilton Street 2. The Cultch 1895 Venables Street 3. Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville Street PERFORMING-ARTS FESTIVAL
1. Vancouver Fringe Festival 2. PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 3. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival LOCAL STREET/COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
1. West 4th Khatsahlano Street Party 2. Car Free Day 3. Italian Day on the Drive
THEATRE COMPANY OR THEATRE PRODUCTION
1. Arts Club Theatre Company 2. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival 3. Theatre Under the Stars
PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY
1. Ballet BC 2. Kokoro Dance 3. 605 Collective
Arts time out
from page 105
TIMOTHY CHOOI Music in the Morning presents the Canadian violinist. Sep 22, 10:30-11:30 am, West Vancouver United Church (2062 Esquimalt). $38/35/17, info www.musicinthemorning.org/. HERITAGE: SINGING CANADA’S CHORAL SONGS The Vancouver Chamber Choir celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary with music by Willan, Somers, Beckwith, Raminsh, Chatman, Emery, Allan, and Archer. Sep 22, 8-10 pm, Dunbar Ryerson United Church (2205 W. 45th). Tix $29-33 at www. ticketmaster.ca/, info www.vancouver chamberchoir.com/event/heritage/. TIME TRACKS: THE VSO’S SEASON OPENER Conductor Bramwell Tovey leads the Australian String Quartet and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a performance of John Adams’s Absolute Jest for String Quartet and Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, and the North American premiere of Tovey’s Time Tracks. Sep 22-23, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Info www. vancouversymphony.ca/. LIONS GATE CHORUS SNEAK PEEK The Lions Gate Chorus, Glow Quartet, and No Strings Quartet present a sneak preview of the music they will be performing in an international competition in Las Vegas. Sep 23, 7:30 pm, Michael J. Fox Theatre (7373 MacPherson Ave., Burnaby). Tix $25/20/15, info www.lionsgatechorus.ca/. WEDNESDAY NOON HOURS: STANDING WAVE Canadian classical ensemble performs music by Debussy, Messiaen, and Jared Miller. Sep 27, 12-1 pm, Roy Barnett Recital Hall (6361 Memorial Rd., UBC). Tix $5 at the door, cash only, info www.music.ubc. ca/wednesday.noon.hours/.
COMEDY 2JUST ANNOUNCED IMPROV WARS: THE LAUGH JEDI The Vancouver TheatreSports League presents an improvised parody that draws on the rich characters, locations, and themes of the Star Wars films. Oct 5–Nov 18, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Info www.vtsl.com/.
2ONGOING THE COMEDY MIX 1015 Burrard, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, 604-684-5050, www. thecomedymix.com/. Comedy club with pro-am night Tue at 8:30 pm, showcase Wed at 8:30 pm, and featured headliners Thu at 8:30 pm and Fri-Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Cover $8 Tue, $10 Wed, $15 Thu, $18 Fri, $20 Sat. 2STEPH TOLEV Sep 21-23 2JOHN ROY Sep 28-30 2PETE ZEDLACHER Oct 5-7. YUK YUK’S COMEDY CLUB 2837 Cambie, 604-696-9857, www.yukyuks. com/vancouver/. Comedy club with Top Talent Tue at 8 pm, amateur night Wed at 8 pm, and professional headliners Thu-Fri at 8 pm and Sat at 7 and 9:30 pm. Cover Tue $10, Wed $7, Thu $10,
CLASSICAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE
1. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra 2. Early Music Vancouver 3. Turning Point Ensemble
CLASSICAL VOCAL ENSEMBLE
1. Chor Leoni Men’s Choir 2. Vancouver Bach Choir 3. Vancouver Cantata Singers IMPROV TROUPE OR COMPANY
1. Vancouver TheatreSports League (The Improv Centre) 2. The Sunday Service Improv (Fox Cabaret) 3. The Fictionals Comedy Company (Various locations) LITERARY EVENT
1. Vancouver Writers Fest 2. Word Vancouver 3. Harmony Arts Festival COMEDY CLUB
1. The Comedy MIX 1015 Burrard Street 2. Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club 2837 Cambie Street 3. Little Mountain Gallery 195 East 26th Avenue
SUN OCT 15 2017 / 7PM
The Gloaming
“Magic… free, unforced and deeply moving in every sense” - Irish Times
BURLESQUE SHOW
1. The Biltmore: Kitty Nights Burlesque 2. Geekenders 3. Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society ARTISAN/CRAFT FAIR
1. Circle Craft 2. Make It Vancouver 3. Portobello West
and Fri-Sat $20. 2ALEX WOOD Sep 21-23 2THE BRETT MARTIN SHOW Sep 22 2TAYLOR WILLIAMSON Sep 28-30.
VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS LEAGUE Some of the world’s most daring and innovative improv. #NoFilter (Thu, 9:15 pm); Ok Tinder (Fri and Sat, 11:15 pm); Rookie Night (Sun, 7:30 pm); TheatreSports (Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat, 7:30 pm; Wed, 9:15 pm; Fri and Sat, 9:30 pm). Sep 20-27, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Info www.vtsl.com/.
2THIS WEEK IMPROV AGAINST HUMANITY: SIZZLING SEPTEMBER The Fictionals present a night of comedy based on culthit card game Cards Against Humanity. Sep 20, 8-10 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12, info www.thefictionals.com/.
C H A N C E N T R E AT U B C Tickets and info at chancentre.com
STEPH TOLEV Toronto-born, Los Angeles– based standup and sketch comedian. Sep 21-23, The Comedy MIX (1015 Burrard). Tix $20/18/15, info www.thecomedymix.com/. ALEX WOOD Standup comedian performs a solo show. Sep 21, 8 pm; Sep 22, 8 pm; Sep 23, 7 pm; Sep 23, 9:30 pm, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club (2837 Cambie). Info www.yukyuks.com/vancouver/. STORY STORY LIE Vancouver performers share intimate, embarrassing stories that seem too strange to be true. The audience must figure out who is telling a lie. Sep 21, 8 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www.riotheatre.ca/. THE BRETT MARTIN SHOW Comedians Brett Martin and Sam Tonning host a live talk show. Sep 22, 10:30 pm, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club (2837 Cambie). Info www. yukyuks.com/vancouver/. THE RADICAL: LIVE IMPROV COMEDY Improv comedy by Gregory Milne, Theo Francon, Taizo Ellis, Abdullah Wasfi, Karla Monterrosa, and Tyler Soon with Roxy Beiklik, and Sinead Grewcock. Sep 26, 7:30-9 pm, Presentation House Theatre (333 Chesterfield Ave.). Tix $6-10, info www.facebook.com/theradicalvan/. ROAST BATTLE Fatima Dhowre hosts a night that sees Vancouver comedians go head-to-head in a battle of wit and insults. Sep 27, 9 pm, Little Mountain Gallery (195 E. 26th). Tix $10/5, info www.facebook. com/events/150381418889618/.
LITERARY EVENTS 2THIS WEEK WORD VANCOUVER Celebrate the written word with 100 readings and presentations, 150 authors and panellists, 25 workshops, and 75 exhibitors. Participating authors include Carleigh Baker, Grant Lawrence, Katherine Collins, Gurjinder Basran, Michael V. Smith, Jónína Kirton, Adèle Barclay, Rodney DeCroo, Julie Flett, and Jen Sookfong Lee. To Sep 24, various Vancouver venues. Free admission, info www.wordvancouver.ca/.
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604.730.7020 | sales@straight.com SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 107
Arts time out
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FRIENDS OF THE VPL FALL USED BOOK SALE Thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records are on sale. Everything is half price on Saturday. Proceeds support library projects and programs. Sep 21-23, 10 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 pm, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/. LITERASIAN Authors Jen Sookfong Lee, Julia Lin, Catherine Hernandez, and Janie Chang launch their latest books. Sep 21, 6:30-8:30 pm, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/. THE MUSLIMAH WHO FELL TO EARTH: PERSONAL STORIES BY CANADIAN MUSLIM WOMEN Join Azmina Kassam and Meharoona Ghani for the Banyen launch of The Muslimah Who Fell to Earth, a collection of 21 personal stories told by women from many backgrounds. Sep 21, 7-8:30 pm, Banyen Books and Sound (3608 W. 4th). Free admission, info www.banyen. com/events/muslimah-who-fell-to-earth/. THE CAPILANO REVIEW: FALL LAUNCH The Capilano Review launches issue 3.32, Polymorphous Translation, co-edited by Catriona Strang and Teddy Byrne, featuring readings by Lisa Robertson, Renee Sarojini Saklikar, Michael Barnholden, Olga Garcia, and Danielle LaFrance. Sep 22, 7-10 pm, The Arts Factory (281 Industrial). Free admission, info www.thecapilanoreview.com/. LISA ROBERTSON LECTURE: WIDE RIME In a consideration of Troubador poetry as the initiator of the long avant garde of European verse, Lisa Robertson presents the construction of
vernacular voice amidst the abolishment of a lyric culture. Sep 23, 7 pm, Harbour Centre, Rm. 2270 (555 W. Hastings). Info www.thecapilanoreview.com/.
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings). Free admission, info www.sfu. ca/sfuwoodwards/events/events1/20172018-fall/ErnstLogar.html.
GREEN MAMA-TO-BE Author Manda Aufochs Gillespie discusses her new book Green Mama-to-be: Creating a Happy, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Pregnancy. Sep 26, 6:30-8 pm, Banyen Books and Sound (3608 W. 4th). Free admission, info www.banyen. com/events/green-mama-2017.
NASTY WOMEN Canadian and international artists respond to the tone and tenor of the post-Trump world. Sep 21, 7-10 pm, Slice of Life Gallery (1636 Venables). Info www.nastywomenyvr.com/.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NON-FICTION AUTHOR READINGS Buzzfeed Canada senior writer Scaachi Koul shares observations on gender dynamics, racial tensions, and ethnic stereotypes in her book One Day Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter. Sep 26, 7-8:30 pm, Alice MacKay Room (Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/events/.
2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Celebrate the launch of Doug Sarti and Dan McLeodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Georgia Straight, A 50th Anniversary Celebration, a collection of 50 years of Georgia Straight covers that contains background for each of the covers along with some detailed history of both the counterculture and Vancouver. Sep 27, doors 6:30 pm, event 7 pm, Book Warehouse (4118 Main St.). Info www.facebook.com/ events/147668235823478/.
ET CETERA 2THIS WEEK ERNST LOGAR: REFLECTING OIL European artist Ernst Logar discusses his art practice, which focuses on the resource of oil. Sep 21, 5 pm, SFU
THE FEVER CABARET Sit at dimly lit tables, listen to piano and cello music, and interact with the hostess. Sep 21-23, 8 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix $18, info tickets.shadboltcentre.com/. HAPA-PALOOZA FESTIVAL 2017 Fusion of music, dance, literary, artistic, and film performances that place prominence on celebrating and stimulating awareness of mixed-heritage and cultural-hybrid identity. Sep 22, 7-9:30 pm; Sep 23, 1-4 pm; Sep 24, 11 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;2 pm, various Vancouver venues. Info www.hapapalooza.com/.
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THE CRITICAL HIT SHOW A #DNDLive Comedy Experience SP 9DQFRXYHU V PRVW LQWUHSLG LPSURY SHUIRUPHUV UHWXUQ ZLWK DQRWKHU PRQWKO\ GRVH RI PHGLHYDO PLUWK Q PHUULPHQW SEE WWW.RIOTHEATRE.CA FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS & UPDATED CALENDAR
108 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 / 2017
GALLERIES
VANCOUVER ART GALLERY 750 Hornby, 604-662-4719, www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/. 2ELAD LASSRY (first major Canadian exhibition of photographs, collages, drawings, sculptures, and films by the Tel Avivâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;born, Los Angelesâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;based artist) to Oct 1 2CLAUDE MONETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SECRET GARDEN (exhibit showcases 38 paintings that span the career of the STEVESTON GRAND PRIX OF ART Over 100 artists of all ages and experience levels French artist who is regarded as a master of the impressionist movement) to race against the clock in a three-hour international plein-air painting challenge. Sep 23, Oct 1 2STEPHEN SHORE: THE GIVERNY PORTFOLIO (25 works by contemporary 10 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1 pm, Britannia Heritage Shipyard American photographer Stephen Shore (5180 Westwater Dr., Richmond). Tix from complement the exhibition Claude free to $25, info www.grandprixofart.com/. Monetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Garden) to Oct 1 ACCIO BURLESQUE VANCOUVER EDITION Evening of burlesque pays MUSEUMS tribute to both the European wizarding world and the expanded American canon. MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER 1100 Chestnut Street, 604-736-4431, www. museumofvancouver.ca/. 2UNBELIEVABLE (exhibition assembles iconic artifacts, storied replicas, and contested objects for an exploration of the role stories play in defining lives and communities and what happens when we question the tales weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve long relied upon) to Sep 24
NOW PLAYING!
straight choices
DRAGONBALL Z LIVE! VARIETY SHOW One-night only variety show features fighting, circus, sideshow, and burlesque by Little Miss Risk, Jesse Inocalla, Burns the Dragon, the Mighty Quinn, Cherry OnTop, House of le Douce, Bae Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Wulf, Justin Hay, Pocket Venus, Shine Divine, and Olivier. Other highlights include a costume contest, senzu bean eating, and a power-up contest. Sep 24, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $25/20, info www.riotheatre.ca/.
CHRYS·A·LIS: AN EMERGING ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Interdisciplinary artist spotlight featuring three recipients of the Audience Choice Award for Performance. Sep 22, 8 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $20/10, info www.sfu.ca/ sfuwoodwards/events/events1/2017-2018fall/Chrys-a-lis.html.
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Includes performances by Dizzy Von Damn, Miz Melancholy, Verity Germaine, Alexa Perplexa, Crystal Tassels, Val Challah, Tout DLou, Maggie McMuffin, Trixie Paprika, Jesus La Pinga, Magnolia Monroe, Whisper De Corvo, Redd Kryptonite, Bolt Action, and Sailor St. Claire. Sep 23, 7 pm, The Red Gate Revue Stage (1601 Johnston Street, Granville Island ). Tix $40/20, info www. facebook.com/events/1846673548980180/.
THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT UBC 6393 NW Marine Drive, 604-822-5087, www.moa.ubc.ca/. 2AMAZONIA: THE RIGHTS OF NATURE (exhibition features Amazonian basketry, textiles, carvings, feather works, and ceramics both of everyday and of ceremonial use, representing Indigenous, Maroon, and whitesettler communities) to Jan 28 2TRACES OF WORDS: ART AND CALLIGRAPHY FROM ASIA (multimedia exhibition examines the physical traces of words, both spoken and recorded, that are unique to humans) to Oct 9
FLAMENCO REDUX Madridbased guest artist Karen Lugo (shown here) joins Rosario Ancer at the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival this week in a bid to deconstruct and reimagine their art form. In the show called Nuevo, New, Nouveau, at the Waterfront Theatre on Friday (September 22), Flamenco Rosario guitarist Victor Kolstee joins them on-stage, along with Spanish singer Momi de Cadiz, Mexican percussionist Alvar Rubio, and a ruffle-flying, foot-stamping, hand-clapping troupe of top-flight dancers. Prepare to see flamenco like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen it before.
OUT OF TOWN 2THIS WEEK SQUAMISH ARTWALK View the talents of over 45 local artists and artisans at more than 40 venues. To Sep 30, Squamish Arts Council Building (37950 Cleveland Ave., Squamish). Info www. facebook.com/squamishartwalk2017/.
TIME OUT ARTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
MOVIES > KEN EISNER REVIEWS MOTHER! Starring Jennifer Lawrence. Rated 14A
When I saw the TV trailer for Darren Ar-
2 onofsky’s mother! I thought it looked like
a pretty decent horror flick—or maybe “psychological thriller”, the label horror-phobic Hollywood marketing departments tend to prefer. But now that I’ve seen it, I don’t know what the hell it is. In this mind-messer of a movie from the director of Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, no one has a given name. Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence—the much older Aronofsky’s current girlfriend—is simply credited as Mother. She’s the doting wife of a much older poet (fellow Oscar owner Javier Bardem), living in a gorgeous Victorian mansion in the middle of nowhere. She has painstakingly restored the place, her husband’s childhood home, from the burned-out shell it once was, and feels a weird connection to it, depicted by shots of a human heart that starts beating when she touches a wall.
J. Law’s crazy bleeding heart
Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem enter full-blown WTF mode for the unhinged “psychological thriller” (if that’s what it is!), mother!
that much face time with Ben Stiller, giving what’s probably his finest performance to date. Stiller’s not always the most likable guy around. When not Director Darren Aronofsky puts his real life partner and mugging for laughs, he’s often his audience through the ringer with super-nutso mother! mining his own pain for our discomfort (and laughs). In Noah An unsatisfied vibe plagues the couple, appar- Baumbach’s 2010 Greenberg, the movie that most ently the result of the poet suffering from severe resembles Brad’s Status, Stiller plays a former worldwriter’s block, but the tension escalates when a beater trying to figure out where his life went wrong. mysterious physician (Ed Harris) shows up at the But where this other fellow kept acting out his bad door one night, thinking it’s a bed-and-breakfast. ideas, Stiller’s new character makes a careful distincMuch to Mother’s chagrin, hubby invites the tion between inward doubts and outward deeds. Here, he plays Brad Sloan, which rhymes well with stranger to spend the night, even though—in between smokes—he’s coughing like it may be his bad loan. Like the Greenberg guy, he started out with last. The next day, the doctor’s nosy bitch of a wife high ideals, but Brad stuck to his, eking out a semi(Michelle Pfeiffer) shows up to make things more comfortable living with a nonprofit outfit run from his home in suburban Sacramento. He has a lovuncomfortable, and she also gets asked to stay. That’s when the freaky mind trips start grinding ing, equally good-doing wife (Jenna Fischer) and a down the hapless Mother. She finds a photo of her nearly grown son who seems to be a musical prodigy. husband in the visitors’ luggage, and a heart spurts Now that the boy, Troy (The Walking Dead’s Austin blood in a backed-up toilet. She starts guzzling Abrams), is heading east to visit some Ivy League colmore liquid meds to deal with the growing insanity leges, Brad’s pride is tinged by discontent—maybe around her. The houseguests-from-hell angle ramps even jealousy—that only increases when he accomup until it apparently climaxes with long-overdue panies Troy on his mission to Massachusetts. As we learn in the kind of running commentary lovemaking, much-wanted pregnancy, and the curing of writer’s block, if you can believe that. A baby’s that’s usually annoying, but this time truly enhancoming, words are flowing, and happy times are ces and/or contradicts what we see, our reluctant middle-ager seethes with increasing resentment at here again! Not. In the final act mother! descends into chaos once the outsized success of his closest college buddies. again as seemingly hundreds of outsiders invade There’s the tech guy (Jemaine Clement) who sold the home, lured by news of the poet’s latest master- his company and retired to Maui, the business wiz piece. It turns into one long WTF moment as the (Luke Wilson) with perfect blond family and pripacked house becomes the surreal setting for riot- vate jet, and the Hollywood mogul who just made the cover of Architectural Digest. (The last is played like combat, executions, and other crazy-ass shit. Considering the pedigree of Aronofsky’s pre- by Mike White, who wrote and directed the exvious acclaimed films, I’m guessing mother! is pertly crafted film.) Brad’s perceptions may be a bit twisted when meant to be an audacious personal statement on the ultimate price of fame or the true role of the it comes to these old pals, but he has a chance artist or something like that. That’s nice for him, to confront his real bête noire, a best-selling author and political pundit played sharkily by but I was just hoping for a decent horror flick. > STEVE NEWTON Michael Sheen, when he calls the man for a favour when they get to Harvard. Of course, Brad BRAD’S STATUS embarrasses Troy; that’s what dads are for. And you keep waiting for him to do worse. But as Starring Ben Stiller. Rated PG usually happens with most folks, Brad’s baddest It takes about 100 minutes for Brad to up- shit is in his own head. And on that little glowdate his status, and it’s well worth booking ing screen he never should have looked at.
2
WEEK IN WIDESCREEN
Attention, Vancouver ADA FOR MAYOR Housing-rights activist Ada Colau
weathered the abuses of mainstream politics (including attempted sabotage by the Spanish government) to become Barcelona’s mayor in 2015, a story told in gripping and frequently intimate detail in this fine doc, coming to the Cinematheque courtesy of DOXA on Thursday (September 21). If you live in Vancouver 2017 (and you do), this is a must-see. -
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Rated 14A
The title is not Strength, but Stronger. This in-
2 vites the question: Stronger than what, exactly?
Starting with the aphorism that whatever doesn’t kill you, et cetera, this surprisingly downbeat film doesn’t offer many answers, but that’s to its benefit. Certainly, the movie’s best muscle comes in the form of Jake Gyllenhaal, powerfully restrained as Jeff Bauman, who became a national symbol when he survived the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Based on Bauman’s memoir, as adapted by John Pollono, the film was directed by David Gordon Green, who hasn’t turned out to be much of a stylist since his indie breakthrough in the early 2000s, with All the Real Girls. Here, his protean, meat-and-potatoes style suits the Boston working-class milieu, even if it relies too heavily on beer-and-bullshit tropes familiar from The Fighter and other Southie-set stories. Here, in Melissa Leo’s place, Miranda Richardson has a turn as the iron-willed, booze-pickled, chain-smoking matriarch. When Jeff is in the wrong place at the right time—he’s also able to eyeball the terror attack’s lead suspect—she sees him as her belated ticket to glory. His peers are supportive, but not very bright. “I gotta tell ya,” says a pal who’s alone in the hospital when Bauman comes out of his coma, “there was a bomb, an’ your fuckin’ legs are gone!” With buddies like that, he’s lucky to get more sensitive aid from his sometime girlfriend, Erin (Canada’s terrific Tatiana Maslany), who was in the race. Jeff took time off from his Costco job to cheer her on at the marathon, and he continues to be bigger on grand gestures than small details. He starts drinking heavily and blowing off appointments with rehab and Erin—who is not exactly welcomed by mommy dearest. The tale is best when it explores Jeff’s ambivalence at being literally thrust into the spotlight. Although he gradually embraces his role as a vague inspiration, it usually causes problems, as when a drunken bar stooge accuses him of being part of “Obama’s false-flag excuse for getting us into a war with Eye-ran”. “I got news for ya,” Jeff shoots back. “We’re already in a war with Eye-ran!” That’s about as close to political satire as things get, and the two-hour film suffers from some of see next page
MOVIES
The projector
1
STRONGER
What to see and where to see it
Art-house party
ALL SCREWED UP The Cinematheque’s
Lina Wertmüller series continues with this 1974 burlesque on class exploitation and bad sex. Screening Friday and Saturday (September 22 and 23).
2
MEMORIES OF A MURDER The Vancity Theatre whets our appetite for VIFF’s presentation of Okja with Bong Joon-ho’s wild cop thriller from 2003. Screening Saturday (September 23).
3
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Does it hold up? See
the 40th-anniversary restoration of Steven Spielberg’s new-age UFO opera at the Rio Theatre on Monday (September 25).
SHERLOCK JR. Get there by 3 p.m. and you can catch a free
screening of Buster Keaton’s delightful Sherlock Jr. —arguably his most inventive and enduring masterpiece—at the Vancity Theatre’s celebration of Art House Theatre Day on Sunday (September 24). Show your true commitment by sticking around for Scott Barley’s “remodernist” Sleep Has Her House at 9 p.m. SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 109
VIFF ‘17 Stronger
from previous page
the same nameless torpor—or lack of strength, perhaps—many Americans feel after decades of relentless conflict. When Erin wheels Jeff onto the ice as honorary captain at a huge Boston Bruins game, she whispers, “Just wave the flag and then we can leave.” On some level, millions agree.
> KEN EISNER
THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES Starring Joan Collins. Rated PG
This latter-day vehicle for Joan
2 Collins and the slightly younger
Pauline Collins (no relation), as accidental friends on an unlikely road trip, can’t decide if it wants to be AbFab or The Whales of August. It fails as both farce and drama, although the performances are likable enough to guarantee a relatively painless ride. The 84-year-old Dynasty doyenne plays Helen Shelley, once a movie star, now with a bad hip and no resources, reduced to a London retirement home full of nobodies. She gets wind of the French funeral of a former director and romantic partner and is determined to turn a day trip to Portsmouth into a ferry ride across the Channel. Bewigged and dressed to the nines, Helen sees her chance when she bumps into the movie’s other Collins, 70-something Priscilla, rooster-pecked by her always grumpy hubby (Ronald Pickup) but with a bulging wallet. The mousy Priscilla can drive, which comes in handy when they land in France. In a “borrowed” car, they head for the adorable tourist resort of Île de Ré, on the Atlantic coast, where Helen insists “all of Hollywood” will be gathered. Uh-huh. But the getaway gals eventually depend on the kindness of a handsome, reclusive, and very rich artist, played by Franco Nero. The spaghetti-western veteran, now 75, must not speak much English, because writer-director Roger Goldby doesn’t ask much of the Italian
Ronnie Rowe Jr. (left) keeps us rooting for Black Cop; Glee’s Dianna Agron (right) keeps us rooted to Hollow in the Land.
Dynasty star Joan Collins returns in brit-com The Time of Their Lives.
except for a few grunts and two (two!) nude scenes. This ramshackle effort would not have been improved by more dialogue. Goldby is an experienced TV director, but his second big-screen effort in 10 years is packed with nonsensical coincidences, ill-considered “comic” fights, and unnecessarily maudlin plot developments. He must have a good rapport with his leads, however, because they treat his story with the same respect and skill they would if it were any good. Both Collinses get nice moments, of course, as when Joan gets to belt out an a cappella version of “Who Can I Turn To?”, written by ex-husband Anthony Newley. They starred together once, in a 1969 would-be hippie musical called Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness. She played Polyester Poontang, and Milton Berle was called Goodtime Eddie Filth. Nothing to do with this movie, of course, but when else will I be able to drop those names?
Early meditations on VIFF
G
iven the city’s recent growth spurt, it feels especially appropriate to open this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival with a movie from our own backyard. Set in Chinatown, Mina Shum’s Meditation Park launches the 36th edition of VIFF next Thursday (September 28), ushering in 16 days of Cannes hits, Oscar contenders, industry events, special presentations, and much, much more. It all ends on October 13 with Todd Haynes’s latest, Wonderstruck, which is probably how we’ll feel after power-cramming some of the 300 or so international and domestic features on offer. Our coverage ramps up next week, but here are a few reviews to get your motor running:
protest to action viewed through dash- and chest-cams), even if I’m not entirely sure that writer-director Cory Bowles (a.k.a. Cory from Trailer Park Boys) has its politics straight. International Village, October 3 (7:15 p.m.) and 4 (4:45 p.m.); Rio, October 13 (6:15 p.m.) > AM THE BOLSHOI (Russia) Valery Todorovsky’s sprawling
story of a poor mining-town girl who makes it into the legendary Bolshoi Ballet has the gloss of a TV movie. But what takes it to a higher level is its refusal to stick to fairytale plotting, its access to the elaborate theatre itself, and, most of all, its lead, Julia. Played by a real—yet never clichéd—ballet dancer, the graceful but Shelley Duvall–gawky Margarita Simonova, Julia is an oddball mix of mischief and iron will. You won’t be able to tear your eyes away from her as the story line dances deftly between her hardscrabble upbringing and her struggles coming of age and competing with her rich rival Karin at the ballet. For a movie as weightless as its flawless grands jetés, it also dares to expose the growing economic and social gaps in Russia. International Village, September 29 (3:45 p.m.); Vancity, October 6 (9 p.m.); Centre, October 12 (8:45 p.m.) > JS
ALPHAGO (USA) As an account of 2016’s high-stakes battle between a Taiwanese Go grandmaster and the DeepMind computer program developed for Google by some next-level geeks in London, AlphaGo is genuinely gripping, and comes highly recommended. As a deeper inquiry into the ramifications of AI, however, Greg Koh’s doc is a little too much in awe of a technology I don’t recall any of us ever asking for. Or, to put it another way, AlphaGo rhapsodically quotes Gary Kasparov—“A good human plus a machine is the best combination”—without considering who built BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY (USA) the machine. International Village, October 2 (11 a.m.); Widely considered the most gorgeous actress to come out of Hollywood’s golden era, Hedy Lamarr was born Jewish Playhouse, October 3 (6:30 p.m.) > ADRIAN MACK and rich in prewar Austria but lost her identity and much ANGKOR AWAKENS: A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA more after moving to America, where she kept marrying > KEN EISNER (Cambodia/USA) Of the myriad methods director Robert men with money but not much else to offer. This wellH. Lieberman uses here to paint a picture of Cambodia’s constructed doc about the fatal trap of beauty suggests that complex history, the most striking is traditional shadow being sexy, smart, and ethnic brought at least two qualities puppetry. The vivid scenes, with their intricate silhouettes, too many for the studio system. It makes a solid case for her offer an artful remove from the horrors being described. It’s principal invention, the signal-hopping system that came a brief respite: the documentary bears witness to multiple into full fruition with cellphones, for which she finally refirsthand accounts—from child soldiers, orphans, polit- ceived recognition in her own lifetime—even if it was too icians, diplomats, aid workers—of the Khmer Rouge chaos. late to restore her damaged self-esteem. SFU, September (At one point, citizens recall the genocidal regime even 28 (6:45 p.m.); International Village, October 8 (9:30 p.m.); targeting people who wore glasses.) The result is compel- Playhouse, October 11 (3:45 p.m.) > KE ling—one of the clearest, most complete historical maps of how such a peaceful country could descend into a blood- BOSCH: THE GARDEN OF DREAMS (Spain/France) If bath. And a sober warning that it could happen anywhere. ever a painting deserved this kind of detailed investigation— Cinematheque, October 1 (6:30 p.m.); International Village, via X-rays, experts, and admirers from Salman Rushdie to Orhan Pamuk—it is Hieronymus Bosch’s wild, confoundOctober 3 (11:30 a.m.) > JANET SMITH ing, and erotically bedazzling triptych The Garden of Earthly AZAR (Iran) From the opening moments, it’s clear the Delights. José Luis López-Linares’s documentary lingers on title character is not a typical female in this patriarchal every fascinating detail of the 16th-century masterwork— society: she’s dirt-bike racing. But as the understated do- from couples copulating in mussel shells to naked men ridmestic drama unfurls, it becomes obvious even a woman ing unicorns. He juxtaposes them effectively with images this strong is no match for the web of rules around her from nature, Woodstock-like gatherings, and surrealist film behaviour in Tehran. She works hard at her husband’s of the last century. Was the triptych a warning against sin, pizza joint, but when tragedy strikes, she struggles to run a celebration of earthly abandon, or simply a rendering of it alone. This is, after all, a country where a woman deliv- some grand fever dream? It’s a tantalizing enigma for the ering pizza on her motorcycle at night is a shock. While ages—one that not even a film this exhaustive can answer. not as tightly or artfully wrought as an Asghar Farhadi SFU, September 29 (6:30 p.m.) and October 11 (1:30 p.m) > JS film, Azar raises similar deep social questions, and is helped by Niki Karimi’s strong, near wordless perform- BUNCH OF KUNST (U.K.) The film with this year’s best ance. Vancity, September 30 (10:30 a.m.) and October 8 (6 title is a slight but still worthy portrait of Nottingham’s Sleaford Mods, whose cathartically rude, lo-fi vision of p.m.); SFU, October 11 (9 p.m.) > JS Britain in collapse has made unlikely stars out of the suBAD GENIUS (Thailand) This Thai teen dramedy is ter- percaustic duo. They’re as suprised as anyone about that, rific fun for the first three of its four-and-a-half hours (plus), and filmmaker Christine Franz captures the air of general until the tale of a good girl—a socially awkward math wiz— incredulity backstage at Glastonbury or, more poetically, gets too complicated for its own good. Still, the slickly made in shots of the uncomfortable-looking pair dwarfed inside film, about nerdy students who hit on a moneymaking a vast dressing room at the O2 in London. Even though scheme that gradually corrupts everyone involved, is an in- you’d probably cross the street to avoid these not-verytriguing combination of heist movie and social-status cri- pretty 40-something men, beatmaker Andrew Fearn tique in a culture that has come to overvalue competition. emerges as thoughtful and warm. Vocalist Jason WilThe girl’s overwhelmed single dad is played by late starter liamson is more distant, though his very English gift for Thaneth Warakulnukroh, who led that soulful elephant inventive swearing and livid gutter surrealism obviously across rural Thailand in the recently seen Pop Aye. Inter- starts at home, as when his wife refers to Williamson’s national Village, October 6 (10:45 a.m.); Playhouse, October bouts of post-tour moodiness as “cunt flu”. Vancity, Octo8 (6 p.m.) and 13 (6:15 p.m.) > KEN EISNER ber 6 (6:30 p.m.); Rio, October 8 (3:30 p.m.) > AM
About Art House Theatre Day Now in year two, Art House Theatre Day celebrates the art house cinema and the cultural role it plays in a community. It is a day to recognize the year-round contributions of film and filmmakers, patrons, projectionists, and staff, and the brick and mortar theaters that are passionately dedicated to providing access to the best cinematic experience across North America.
BLACK COP (Canada) As puzzling as it is provocative, SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 13, 2017
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110 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017
Black Cop follows its unnamed title character from ambivalent member of his own community (he sneers at Black Lives Matter protesters in an early scene) to angel of inarticulate vengeance, using his uniform to go Maniac Cop on privileged white folk. (Rather pleasingly, on a visceral level.) Charismatic Ronnie Rowe Jr. has to do a lot of the heavy lifting here, suggesting a conflicted inner life that’s deeper and more troubled than anything offered in the script, least of all the event that pushes him over the edge. But the film’s Medium Cool attempt at a high-voltage contemporaneity definitely excites (from doc-style scenes of
CHAVELA (USA) A should-have-been superstar gets her due in this lovingly made—if not always flattering—portrait of Chavela Vargas, a gender-bending singer who brought fado-like intensity to Mexican rancheras, almost all about lost love. At her height, she wowed the public and visiting movie royalty; she even found herself in bed with Ava Gardner! But her boozy ways (“I drank the rivers dry,” she tells the camera, in retrospective mode) and refusal to compromise contributed to her decline. And then Spain’s Pedro Almodóvar, one of several passionately devoted male advocates in her life, helped launch a spectacular last act. see next page
This handsomely mounted doc makes exceptional use of translated lyrics— something often overlooked in musical tales. International Village, October 1 (9:30 p.m.); Playhouse, October 5 (9 p.m.); SFU, October 9 (2:15 p.m.) > KE
With a murderous rapist on the loose in the background, things go awry when Lynn and her classmate embark upon an ill-conceived plan to steal and sell her classmates’ confiscated cellphones. Featuring natural performances and authentic flow, this wellconstructed feel-bad film reads like a quietly devastating documentary that illustrates how a young life is stifled by inescapable sexism, neglect, and economic hardship. International Village, October 7 (6:15 p.m.); Cinematheque, October 10 (9 p.m.) > CT
are never discussed, but both seem to chafe at lack of advancement; they met in architecture school, but now he sells furniture and she makes small craft items to sell. Through it all, they continue to churn out children, and these make for interesting side stories and possible doc spinoffs. The couple’s golden first-born starts drifting, for example, while the in-house delinquent starts coming through for Mom and Dad when they’re stuck. Recommended. International Village, October 1 (1:15 p.m.) and 7 (9:15 p.m.) > KE
FOREST MOVIE (Canada) Matthew Taylor Blais’s 66-minute feature is simultaneously the most extreme and the most placid entry in this year’s FUTURE//PRESENT program. A young woman (the almost-not-there Ana Escorse) dreams of a forest, visits a forest, then falls asleep inside the forest (namely, Pacific Spirit Regional Park). There you have it: a wordless and subtly lysergic document that can be used either to quiet the mind or to project your own adventure. Cinematheque, September 30 (6:45 p.m.); International DISAPPEARANCE (Netherlands/ Village, October 9 (1 p.m.) > AM Norway) With a pragmatic aesthetic informed by European minimalism, FRANK SERPICO (USA) The man Boudewijn Koole develops a deeply who testified about the extensive cornuanced examination of intricate fam- ruption in his own police department ilial bonds by employing artful ellip- and took a bullet in the face for his tical jumps, and an emphasis on lyrical troubles opens up in this fascinating, and aural details. A journalist, Lou- frequently frustrating doc. A straight ise, returns to her wintry Norwegian arrow with a bohemian soul (and hometown for the birthday of Bengt, hair) who retired to his Greenwich her teenage experimental-musician Village apartment after every shift, half-brother. There, she faces intensely Serpico was predictably never trusted rooted tensions with her aloof mother, by his colleagues, while his pedantry Roos. But what Louise has to an- over liberties taken in the classic 1973 nounce will have a life-shifting impact “biopic” starring Al Pacino (the film is upon all of them. Admirable cinematic quoted often here) made director Sidarchitecture. Rio, September 30 (8:45 ney Lumet want to shoot him too. This p.m.); Playhouse, October 7 (noon) > CT portrait is as garrulous as the man himself—appropriately, given his uncatTHE DIVINE ORDER (Switzerland) egorizable mix of hippie insouciance Voting rights for women seem like such and obstinate New York cop-itude, a done deal that we don’t spend much but it also means that a reunion with thought on some of the latter-day en- an old partner who left him to bleed to trants to the modern age. But seriously, death takes a lot of time to go nowhere. Switzerland: 1971? Germany’s Marie SFU, October 6 (9 p.m.); International Leuenberger is terrific as Nora, a small- Village, October 8 (11 a.m.); Cinematown hausfrau who knows just enough theque, October 13 (6:30 p.m.) > AM to know she wants more. Looking after her decent husband and two nice boys HOLLOW IN THE LAND (Canada) is okay, but the presence of her brut- Rising star Jared Abrahamson (three ish father-in-law is key to recognizing films at VIFF this year) and Glee’s a system—backed by old men of pol- Dianna Agron are your best reaitics, law, and clergy—that doesn’t just sons to catch this thriller, even if his lock women out of decision-making, troubled misfit disappears from the it makes them subjugated people. Like movie inside 15 minutes. As his sismuch else in this sometimes overly ter, Agron sets out to prove that her ingratiating movie, Nora’s awaken- fugitive little bro didn’t murder his ing arrives a bit too easily. But writer- girlfriend’s monster of a father, while director Petra Volpe comes through markedly unsympathetic local cops do with an empathetically entertain- everything to obstruct her—or some ing tale that reminds us how far we of them do, anyway. The film’s depichaven’t come, baby. International Vil- tion of small-town B.C. feels more lage, September 29 (4:30 p.m.); Centre, considerate and lived-in than usual (Castlegar plays itself), while director October 2 (6:30 p.m.) > KE Scooter Corkle proves with his debut THE DRAGON DEFENSE (Colombia) feature that he can bring some moveDon’t miss this deceptively low-key ment and a few other ancillary charms character study of a nebbish middle- to a thing as basically dispiriting as a aged man who has traded his life as a Telefilm-funded action whodunit. Rio, married almost-chess-champion for October 1 (6:15 p.m.); International Viljust getting by tutoring young math lage, October 9 (11:30 a.m.) > AM and chess savants. (The title refers to one variation in the famous Sicil- HOLY AIR (Israel) A minority within a ian Defence.) Played by Gonzalo de minority inside Israel, Arab Christians Sagarminaga, better known as a com- don’t get much screen time. But then poser, this near-monastic sad sack again, neither do couples as funny and trades Diner-like barbs with his simi- sexy as the Nazareth twosome seen in larly stranded late-middle-aged bud- this surprisingly sweet-tempered and dies, while passively yearning for just a colourfully shot (and quite short) comlittle more glory. First-time filmmaker edy of sometimes serious errors, which Natalia Santa comes from a back- comments on the commercial uses of ground in photography, and she starts religion. Writer-director Shady Srour with beautifully composed images that plays the husband, not quite ready for raise provocative questions within the his media-savvy wife (Laëtitia Eïdo) to simple spaces where most people pass have their first baby. First, he wants to their lives. Enough of these visual quer- make some dough through one of his ies are answered by actions to keep the many get-rich-quick schemes, and the story moving forward with more preci- latest is to literally bottle air from atop sion than its lackadaisical hero might a mountain where Jesus supposedly suggest. A quiet gem from an unusual- walked. You can imagine how well that ly talented young director—one with works out. Playhouse, October 8 (9:30 more great moves to come. SFU, Octo- p.m.); SFU, October 12 (4 p.m.) > KE ber 7 (6:30 p.m.); International Village, A MARRIAGE STORY (Czech RepubOctober 9 (11 a.m.) > KE lic) Helena Třeštíková spent more than THE FOOLISH BIRD (China) With an three decades following one Prague impassive eye and a spare touch, film- couple through some pretty serious makers Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka ups and downs. What’s striking is how depict the desolate life of 16-year-old opaque the otherwise likable Václav Lynn, a frowzy high-school student and Ivana remain to each other, as living in a rundown rural town in well as to us, from their faintly cynical China with her grandparents while pre-wedding views to the somewhat her migrant-worker mother is away. happy ending. Changes in government
SAMI BLOOD (Sweden/Denmark/ Norway) Systemic prejudice against Indigenous people isn’t just a Western Hemisphere thing. Scandinavian countries have engaged in a low-key war against Arctic Aboriginals over the years, with Sweden building its own version of Canada’s residential schools. Mostly set in the 1930s, the darkly shot film follows two Sami sisters as they’re separated from their reindeer-herding mother and sent to a school dedicated to wiping out all traces of their culture. The nearly twohour film is very well acted, especially by Lene Cecilia Sparrok, who plays the older sibling, who assimilates more easily—at her own peril. But it’s repetitive in tone, and filmmaker Amanda Kernell, part Sami herself, started with an unavoidable obstacle: the people who used to be called Laplanders are now so intermarried with the general population that it’s hard, for outside audiences anyway, to spot any defining ethnic differences between characters in a movie drawing on the actors available today. Playhouse, October 10 (6:15 p.m.); International Village, October 12 (11:15 a.m.) > KE
CLAIRE’S CAMERA (South Korea/ France) A curious cinematic confection. Seoul film salesperson Manhee (Kim Minhee, The Handmaiden) is cast adrift at the Cannes Film Festival when she’s fired by her boss. After she meets snap-happy, quirky Claire (Isabelle Huppert, Elle), who holds magical beliefs about her camera, the two wind their way around town as Manhee’s boss and a South Korean director discuss Manhee’s dismissal. The film is deceptively simple and seemingly naive at first, until layers of relationships are unveiled and there’s amusement in the metahumour to enjoy. Not without flaws, but an otherwise light delight designed for festivalgoers. International Village, September 29 (7 p.m.) and October 1 (1:45 p.m.) > CRAIG TAKEUCHI
A SKIN SO SOFT (Canada) With his acute attention to everyday detail, Quebec auteur Denis Côté paints an intimate docufictional portrait of Canadian bodybuilders preparing for a competition. Lives sacrificed to achieving grossly exaggerated physical shapes are laid bare, as Côté eschews overt commentary in favour of observation. Peculiarities range from the amusing (one guy weighs his food) to the contradictory (a father eats apart from his family, then bemoans his lack of quality time with his baby). This is not about the whys of their pursuits but, rather, the whats. With their lifestyles held up as evidence, audiences can gather what they can, as the expansive surfaces of these men’s physiques are more revealing than anyone intends them to. International Village, September 29 (8:30 p.m.); Vancity, September 30 (2:30 p.m.) > CT STILL NIGHT, STILL LIGHT (Canada)
Sophie Goyette’s feature debut travels from Montreal to Mexico to an unnamed city in China (and farther on to a delicately metaphysical conclusion) in its effort to map the interior lives of three seemingly disparate characters, principally an inscrutably intense “failed” musician played by Eliane Préfontaine. She’s the magnetic centre of a film whose formal audacity—long takes, innovative sound, zero commercial pandering—puts it on the thrilling edge of new Canadian cinema. Don’t miss. Cinematheque, October 1 (9 p.m.); International Village, October 3 (3:15 p.m.) > AM
SUCK IT UP (Canada) We Were Wolves director Jordan Canning’s second feature survives a couple of overdetermined comic sequences to emerge as an amiable portrait of two friends on a grief bender. Straight-arrow Faye, a teacher in training, seems to be handling the death of her ex-boyfriend, Garrett, a little better than his permanently wasted sister, Ronnie. They go to Invermere, B.C., together, ostensibly to dry Ronnie out with crafting exercises and other twee teacher-in-training bullshit, but she’s already traded boob-flashes for road beers before they hit the worst bar in town. Erin Margurite Carter and Grace Glowicki have a lot of fun with the rhythms of this asymmetrical friendship, which could have left them stranded with cutout characters but instead melts into something a little deeper and more honest—random conversations about pube colour, and so forth—as it goes on. Rio, October 8
(9 p.m.); International Village, October marries the preteen daughter of some distant relatives, the tale finds paral11 (2 p.m.) > AM lels between gender and race—but in THELMA (Norway/Sweden/France/ a manner that’s compellingly tranceDenmark) Strange things are hap- like, not didactic. Playhouse, October pening to the sheltered Thelma (Eili 3 (9:15 p.m.); International Village, Harboe) as she attends university in October 5 (1:15 p.m.) > KE Oslo. Seizures suddenly disrupt her life. Crows flock to her. Power surges WINNIE (France/Sout h Africa/ occur around her. Is it her? Something Netherlands) “Some people move in supernatural? Amid all of this, the al- and out of history, but Winnie’s luring Anja arouses desire in her while a constant.” So says the activist her overprotective, religious parents daughter of Winifred Madikizelaspy on her every move from afar. Dir- Mandela, whose reputation as ector Joachim Trier (Oslo, August 31st) the hands-on stalwart and interkeeps the suspense on low-key boil national face of the African Naby dropping clues at a well-measured tional Congress during her huspace. Although the narrative follows band’s long imprisonment was many conventional psychological- tarnished when he got out. This thriller conventions, Trier counter- fast-moving, footage-packed Dutch balances that with his attentive, au- doc shies away from some of the thentic character study of Thelma and more unpleasant charges hurled her family. International Village, Sep- against her, but it makes the case tember 29 (1 p.m.); Playhouse, October that multiple parties—judging from on-camera testimony from 9 (6:30 p.m.) > CT both ex-government and ANC VAZANTE (Brazil/Portugal) A spec- officials—believe “this woman” tacular achievement, morally and should shoulder the blame for the aesthetically, this starkly poetic study excessive violence that South Afriin black-and-white—in both senses— can prime minister and president takes us back to the heyday of Brazil- P.W. Botha and others had previian slavery, which lasted until 1888 ously laid at the saintly leader’s and was responsible for bringing a door. In the end, both Mr. Mandela little less than half of African slaves to and Archbishop Tutu threw her the Western Hemisphere. Writer-dir- under the postapartheid bus, and ector Daniela Thomas, who devised it’s painful to watch her publicly the most political part of the open- excoriated under dubious circuming to Rio’s Olympic Games last year, stances. There was almost certainly takes us back to 1821 for a fever dream some corruption on her part, espeof a tale in which shackled Africans cially under that level of constant who speak no Portuguese must figure pressure. But as Winnie herself out how to survive, especially when tells filmmaker Pascale Lamche, “working” for a brooding colonizer “The whole regime got away with (Portugal’s Adriano Carvalho) who murder—literally!” International has almost as little interest in farm- Village, October 7 (11 a.m.); SFU, ing as he has in them. When the man October 11 (6:30 p.m.) > KE
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MUSIC
As difficult as this might be for his legions
BY MIKE US IN G ER
of admirers to process, there was a time when Nardwuar the Human Serviette wasn’t an endless fountain of obscure pop-culture trivia. “In high school, I was president of the student council, and I knew nothing about music, but the people that I represented did,” the celebrity interviewer, beloved Vancouver icon, and plaid-clad antifashion horse says, interviewed over brunch at North Vancouver’s Tomahawk restaurant on a recent sunny summer afternoon. “So I would carry around a notepad and write down all the bands that they wanted to play our school.” The future Nardwuar—who back then was known by the name he shares with a certain Victorian art critic—didn’t wait for his fellow students at West Vancouver’s Hillside Secondary School to come to him with their requests. “Because I was elected, I would ask them ‘Who do you want to play the dances?’ ” he recalls. “They’d be like, ‘We want Rubber Biscuit. We like the Flunkees. We like the Villains. We like the MT Vessels.’ I would write all these bands down and then I’d go to the record stores and buy those records. That’s how I discovered local bands before I discovered Led Zeppelin.” That early determination to educate himself about acts he knew nothing about, coupled with a brighteyed curiosity, has served Nardwuar the Human Serviette well over the years. Today he’s become Internet-famous as one of the most idiosyncratic interviewers on the planet, his YouTube channel boasting well over a whopping half-million subscribers. His gift, as his legions of fans know, is his ability not only to hold his own with famous subjects—who’ve ranged from Jay Z to Katy Perry to Justin Trudeau to
Three decades of Nardwuar
Nardwuar is known for many things, including his radio show, his YouTube channel, his band the Evaporators, and his eye-searing fashion sense.
Gerald Ford; postcards and flyers from the group’s four-decade run; and tickets to the Evaporators’ upThe Human Serviette celebrates 30 years of impressing coming all-ages gig at the Hall at 1739 Venables. interviewees with scarily well-researched questions As always, he’s got a lot Marilyn Manson—but to actually impress and en- on his ever-racing mind. The question of whether gage them once the camera is rolling. he should sell potato chips at the gig is a big one, Comedian David Cross once famously mar- his worrying tied into the fact that there’s a convenvelled during a Nardwuar interview, “Man, that’s ience store right across the street. He’s less worried some thorough, in-depth, unnecessary research.” about, but just as fixated on, ironing out the schedExcept the funny thing is that the Human Servi- uling details of the upcoming 20-hour marathon ette’s endless prep and appetite for obscure trivia he’ll be doing live at the University of British Colare precisely what impresses his often high-profile umbia’s CiTR to celebrate 30 years of his Nardwuar subjects. There’s a reason that Nardwuar gets ac- the Human Serviette Radio Show. cess to well-known and normally press-averse artAnd he admits that, after surviving a couple ists like Drake and Chance the Rapper. And there’s of serious medical scares over the past decade or a reason that the famously prickly likes of Jello Bi- so—including a stroke and a brain aneurysm— afra and the Melvins’ King Buzzo actually seem he’s got to the point where he’s taking better care to enjoy the interview process when the Human of himself. Instead of ordering the Skookum Serviette is on the other end of the microphone. Chief Burger (onions, lettuce, tomato, ground If his student-council days taught Nardwuar beef, grilled Yukon bacon, an egg, cheese, a wieanything, it’s that a little digging goes a long way. ner, and Tomahawk special sauce) he opts for Proving that some things in this ever-evolving the moderately less artery-clogging Yukon-Style city remain impervious to change, the Tomahawk Bacon and Eggs (five slices of Yukon-style bacon, still looks like a Gastown tourist shop on steroids two free-run eggs, hash-brown potatoes, and two on the day the Straight meets up with Nardwuar slices of Klondike toast). Nardwuar is, evidently, the Human Serviette. Walls and shelves are decor- well aware that there comes a time in life when ated with mini totem poles, carved First Nations you have to start watching your cholesterol. masks, and vintage paintings. As he digs in, he reveals that, when he finished Suggesting that—at least where his personal style high school and enrolled at the University of Britis concerned—he’s no more interested in reinvent- ish Columbia, his father was pushing him to being the wheel than the Tomahawk, Nardwuar is come an engineer. “I got accepted to UBC with a C-plus average— wearing his trademark screaming-red-tartan pants and famous tam, this offset by a retina-burning Ger- I think nowadays you need an A-minus average to get in,” he recalls. “Everyone from my high school man soccer shirt given to him by a friend. In a gesture that will be familiar to anyone who’s was going there, and the first day my friend John watched him grill thousands of celebrities over the Berardino was there, and he was like, ‘Hey, UB40 years, the Human Serviette has arrived with a bag and the Fine Young Cannibals are playing at the full of gifts: a vinyl copy of Nardwuar the Human War Memorial Gym. Why don’t we go to that gig? Serviette Presents “Oh God, My Mom’s on Chan- I have an extra ticket.’ ” University life evidently took some mastering nel 10!”, a 1989 compilation featuring his band the Evaporators along with early interview segments for Nardwuar. “He said, ‘Before the gig, we have to consume with Joey Shithead and former American president
some alcohol, so let’s go to the Pit Pub.’ I went and said, ‘Um, I am not of age, am I allowed to order a drink?’ My friends were like, ‘What the hell are you asking that for? Get the hell out of here.’ ” In a telling insight into Nardwuar’s ability to remember obscure facts, he continues the story with diversions including how the Pit Pub had at that time a giant surplus of French fries purchased from Expo 86 after the fair wound down. And how he left the Pit Pub and headed for a gathering that would change his life. “It turned out that CiTR was having a beer garden before the gig,” he recalls. “My friend John went, ‘Why don’t we go there?’ I was like, ‘No. I don’t want to go to CiTR.’ I knew what CiTR was but I didn’t want to get involved, because I knew that if I got involved, it would cause me to fail like I almost failed in high school. But I went, and remember them—as soon as I walked in—handing me a membership form which they said I could fill out. I said, ‘What’s the point of filling it out—I don’t have the money.’ They said, ‘You can bring the money tomorrow.’ ” The next day, out of guilt, Nardwuar did just that, starting at CiTR in September of 1986, and then getting his own radio show in October of 1987. That show would provide an early platform for the interviews that he’d eventually become famous for. Most artists get on the phone expecting to talk about their latest album. Instead, Nardwuar would famously grill Iggy Pop about the size of his cock. He’d confuse Alice Cooper (who once recorded a song called “Hey Stoopid”) by attempting to start with “First off, hey stoopid, who are you?” And he’d confound Beck to the point where the alternative wunderkind finally muttered, “You know…just fuck off.’ ” Over the years, his legend would grow, Nardwuar sometimes pissing off those who didn’t grasp him to the point of near violence (Skid Row and Blur) and palpable disdain (Lydia Lunch), and becoming a favourite of those who did (Snoop Dogg, with whom he’s now, after multiple encounters, basically on a first-name basis). As his legend has grown—following years on MuchMusic, he’s picked up crazy momentum
FUTURE’S BRIGHT FOR HIEROGLYPHIC BEING >>>
W
hat do you think of when you think of the future? Do you think of a thousand years from now? A hundred? Next week? For Jamal Moss, even next week is too late. For the Chicago house producer, who performs under the name Hieroglyphic Being, the future is now—and it’s ours to make. Granted, when the Georgia Straight reaches him at his home, he’s more concerned with surviving the present. He’s been in the air as much as on the ground for the past few weeks, and all that time in sealed tubes resulted in a bout with norovirus, which led to pneumonia, and now to whooping cough—as is
The philosophically minded Chicago house producer Jamal Moss, a.k.a. Hieroglyphic Being, sees music as a path to enlightenment and positivity.
painfully audible during our chat. This, though, hasn’t diminished his positive outlook.
“I try to not give in too much to the negative, because that’s just like a barrier that you set up
see page 121 > BY ALEXANDER VARTY
for yourself to not excel,” Moss explains. “It’s like a dead weight, and I just never want to look at life from that approach. It’s like no matter what I go through in life that makes me see it as negativity or weird happenstance that may cause me anguish or stress or hurt, I try to block all that out. When I create, that’s when it becomes the opportunity to purge all that other stuff out of me. I’m like, ‘Okay, even if my world is bad, I know I have the power to make the world better for other people through the sounds I create.’ And that process is kind of healing for me.” Moss’s own life is a case in point. He grew up in a ghetto milieu of drugs and poverty and
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was homeless for an extended period; much has been made of his time as a gigolo, servicing bored, wealthy women. But once he discovered his aptitude for making music, his upward trajectory was unstoppable. “When I first started DJing I used to work with a friend, and we would set parties up for people that were disabled—paraplegic, or born with mental disabilities or body disfigurations, stuff like that,” he explains. “We would do parties for them— and it was a kind of beautiful thing because, you know, they got into the music. They didn’t consider it underground or deep or esoteric from the regular world; they were just into it. see page 115
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Hieroglyphic Being
from page 113
So we learned that music can speak to anyone, any human being, if they’re open and accepting to it.” The music that Moss makes as Hieroglyphic Being is audibly rooted in house’s 35-year history: it is eminently, functionally danceable. But his beats are often coupled to questing, open-ended melodies that naturally set the mind to contemplating life’s mysteries. And his titles—“The Disco’s of Imhotep”, for instance, or “The Doctrines of Swedenborg”—offer further clues to deeper things. “You can hear the sounds, and you can read about the concept behind them,” he says, “but then it’s for you to research and follow through to decipher what all this stuff means.” And that’s where the future comes in. It might lie ahead of us, but we’re all engaged in making it right now. “Everybody can be on the road of enlightenment and positivity,” Moss contends. “That’s how I look at it. And it’s not just from technology. A book is a form of technology. You know what I’m saying? A visual medium is a form of technology. Hell, yoga is a form of technology. Working out is a form of technology.…So it’s up to everybody to awaken their third eye to make the future something special.” Moss’s futurist philosophy dovetails beautifully with that of the New Forms festival, which will present the producer in a one-off collaboration with veteran jazz and reggae percussionist Hamid Drake. For some, the future is terrifying— especially with nuclear catastrophe fears and anthropocentric climate change running rampant, not to mention the somewhat more tenuous threats posed by rogue asteroids and end-times theology. But one of the roles of New Forms, executive director Malcolm Levy says, is to open our eyes to the positive options that art and technology present. “The conceptual framework of futurism really becomes strongest at
THU SEPT 21 Hans-Joachim Roedelius performs as part of the New Forms festival.
a time when you have such a threat,” he says, in a separate telephone interview. “When you have threats to our environment, most of all, but also the changes that we’re seeing in politics, government, and economics, almost the most important thing we can do is to take these utopian ideas and really consider them—because if you don’t consider them in a moment of crisis, then you can’t precipitate change.” Another New Forms focus, Levy adds, is to bring together visionaries both old and young, pointing out that this year’s festival goes beyond Drake and Moss’s multigenerational meeting to encompass everything from the postapocalyptic musings of 82-yearold electronic pioneer Hans-Joachim Roedelius to the multimedia innovations of Kanye West collaborators Sinjin Hawke and Zora Jones. “I think if there’s one thing to take away around how New Forms sees futurism, it’s really about that continuum—the past into the present into the future, and how they all correlate with each other in a really impactful way,” he says. “And bringing these artists together is an amazing way to have that conversation.” Hieroglyphic Being and Hamid Drake play the Centre for Digital Media next Thursday (September 28), as part of the New Forms festival. For a full New Forms schedule, visit newforms mediasociety.org/.
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Slow (left) gave the world “Have Not Been the Same”, which does grunge better than anything that came out of Seattle; Art Bergmann penned two local classics with “Our Little Secret” and “Hawaii”.
The 50 best songs to spring from Vancouver > B Y JOHN L UC A S, A D RI AN M ACK, M IKE USING E R, ALEXANDER VA R TY, AND KATE W IL SON
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ack in May we marked the Georgia Straight’s golden anniversary by listing 50 of our favourite local albums from the past half-century. As you might expect, limiting our picks to one LP from each year meant that not all readers were pleased with the results. “Where the fuck is Nickelback?” all of Surrey wondered. “Why no 54-40?” asked others who hadn’t left the house since Expo 86 ended. “Bring me the head of Mike Usinger on a stick!” more than an angry few demanded. We can’t help you with that last one, but Nickelback and 5440—both of which Straight writers have proudly put on more than one lovingly curated mix tape—did make the cut this time around. In honour of this week’s Best of Vancouver issue, we decided to shine a spotlight on our picks for the 50 best songs to ever come out of this rainsoaked part of the world, this time with no one-per-year restriction. The choices range from the snotty proto-grunge of Slow’s deathless “Have Not Been the Same” and the raging hardcore of D.O.A.’s “World War 3” to the perfect pop of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and, well, whatever the hell it is that Fake Shark does. Your favourite Vancouver song might well be among the 50 entries below. If it isn’t, we know we’re sure as Christ going to hear about it. Slow “Have Not Been the Same” (1985) Best song to emerge from the grunge movement? (Which, as more than one savvy historian has noted, actually started incubating in the Pacific Northwest long before Mudhoney released “Touch Me I’m Sick”.) “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, obviously. But “Have Not Been the Same” is the runner-up, an aural amphetamine rush that swings like nothing out of Seattle ever did. There’s a very good reason Slow’s immortal moment is first on this list. Modernettes “Barbra” (1980) The perfect pop-punk single? With John “Buck Cherry” Armstrong marrying his inner Chuck Berry to a Ramonesstyle slash-and-burn beat, this witty, giddy confection is almost certainly it. Sweatshop Union “Thing About It” (2004) Before rappers decided it was preferable to shout weird noises like “skrrt skrrt” and “scoo scoo” instead of lyrics, there was Sweatshop Union. At its socially conscious best on this record, the
seven-person hip-hop collective explores how to escape materialism over jazzy guitar noodling and grunting bass riffs.
Todd founders Nick Gilder and Jim McCulloch, but sung by Gilder’s replacement, the then teenaged Bryan Guy Adams—aka Bryan “Yeah, that Guy” Adams. Too good to just give Sons of Freedom “The Criminal” away, Gilder also included it on his (1988) SOF’s collision of industrial debut solo album (You Know Who brawn and jagged white funk could You Are) from the same year. easily compete with the good stuff coming out of Manchester and Cali- Front Line Assembly “Mindphasfornia at the time. If the Sons never er” (1992) For the complete early quite got what they deserved, a sold- ’90s Vancouver cyberpunk experiout reunion in 2014 at the Imperial ence, put the brain-zapping electro lent a nice epilogue to their story. assault of “Mindphaser” on repeat while you read William Gibson’s Fake Shark “Cheap Thrills” (2015) Virtual Light from cover to cover. It’s never quite clear whether Kevvy Dyeing your hair black and wearing and company are celebrating the de- bondage pants are optional. lights of “cheap thrills and a casual romance” or mocking the creatures Dan Mangan “Robots” (2009) The of the night, but don’t let a little beauty of “Robots” is the way that ambiguity bother you while you’re it’s anything but shiny and happy on shaking ass to this ridiculous, greasy paper, that having everything to do slather of sleaze-funk. with lyrics such as “The fire in my eye is fleeting now/Your robot heart The Poppy Family “Which Way You is bleeding out.” But even if you’re Goin’ Billy?” (1969) With a simple in the worst of moods, goddamn if change of lyric, Susan Jacks took you don’t end up singing your stupid her then-husband Terry’s likable- head off to the song’s impossibly inenough ode to Buddy Holly and fectious back half. Sometimes it feels turned it into one of the most en- good to smile through the sadness. duringly lush slabs of romantic melancholia ever committed to vinyl. Slowburn “Whatever” (1996) The Proof that nobody could rain on the cynically noncommital lyrical senti‘60s quite like Vancouver. ment is quintessentially Gen X (“I love you, I suppose”), and quite frankly Pointed Sticks “Out of Luck” (1979) the sonics are also strictly ’90s, splitAt its most charming, the first wave ting the difference between shoegaze of punk gave a shot of amphetamine and grunge. But when that chorus to the same combination of cowboy hits, it feels like the greatest song ever. chords and tarnished innocence that kept Chuck Berry and the early Bea- SonReal “Everywhere We Go” (2013) tles in business. It’s the genius sim- Aaron Hoffman proves that the 604 plicity-with-a-twist that amazes here. can do hip-hop that’s just as worthy See also: “Barbra” by the Modernettes. of the big time as anything coming out of the 6. And the video is a hoot. Mother Mother “The Drugs” (2016) The sound of a man unshackling him- Nickelback “How You Remind Me” self from his chemical romance, only (2001) Nickelback may be more of a to discover that sometimes the things national joke than last year’s World you substitute for your worst vices are Junior hockey team, but the band still just as dangerous—all set to some ser- manages to pack Rogers Arena on a iously triumphant-sounding alt-pop. Sunday night. That’s due in no small part to the pull of this track. With its 54-40 “One Day in Your Life” pitch-perfect grunge vibe and just(1987) There’s an almost irrefutable emotional-enough chorus—supposcase to be made that 54-40 is Lotus- edly about Chad Kroeger’s tumultuland’s greatest-ever singles band, ous love life pre–Avril Lavigne—it’s the gold-standard offerings start- little surprise this record was nomining during the indie years (“Sound ated for a Grammy. of Truth”) and continuing for decades on major labels (“Baby Ran”, Pure “Anna Is a Speed Freak” (1994) “One Gun”, “Ocean Pearl”). Hootie It’s like a ’90s-rock time capsule, comand the Blowfish scored big with a plete with a big post-grunge guitar cover of the quartet’s “I Go Blind”, riff, lyrics rife with drug references, but we’re naming “One Day in Your and a Floria Sigismondi video featurLife” as best in show, thanks to the ing a crowd-surfing waif in her undhypnotic opening riff and cathartic ies. And holy shit, what a catchy tune. trumpet-flourished finish. Zimmers Hole “This Flight ToSweeney Todd “Tantalize” (1977) night” (2002) The first sign that This late entry glam-rock barnburn- Zimmers Hole’s reworking of a Joni er was written by departed Sweeney Mitchell nugget will be a tad more
molten than the original comes when singer Chris Valagao kicks things off with a guttural “Do you wanna get me a spit cup?” What follows is a metal maelstrom that makes Nazareth’s cover seem almost pastoral, the money shot coming at 1:57, which sounds scarily like a 747 landing at the gates of hell as the flight deck goes up in flames.
Hannah Georgas “Evelyn” (2016) Queen of crafting electro-pop for intellectuals, Hannah Georgas masters her penchant for introspective lyrics. Oscillating between the nihilistic refrain of “Nothing really matters” and the hopeful “One day I’m gonna get there,” Georgas perfectly matches her emotional enquiries with brooding, arpeggiated synths.
The Blue Shadows “Coming On Strong” (1993) “Hank Williams goes to the Cavern Club” is how Billy Cowsill and Jeffrey Hatcher described their brief but miraculous collaboration as the Blue Shadows. This instant classic strongly suggests that the Everly Brothers were tagging along, too.
The Age of Electric “I Don’t Mind” (1997) The four Saskatchewan transplants in the Age of Electric had already proven they could write a killer radio-rock single (see 1995’s “Ugly”), but the dead-simple “woo-hoo-hoo” hook of “I Don’t Mind” might be the catchiest thing in their catalogue— and maybe on this list.
Bob Moses “Tearing Me Up” (2015) Few can resist the lure of this track’s sultry guitar chords, rich bass triplets, and breathy vocals—and that includes Ellen DeGeneres, who, after hearing this song on her car radio, immediately booked the boys onto her talk show.
Mounties “Tokyo Summer” (2014) Exotic Far East keyboards and cascading vocals are at the heart of a love song that works on multiple levels. “Tokyo Summer” not only captures the dizzying infatuation that comes with a new relationship, but also works as a breathless ode to Japan’s largest and most fascinating city. Never experienced the thrill of exploring Harajuku or Shinjuku, drunk on love during a humid August night? Start here for a good idea of what to expect.
The Enigmas “Windshield Wiper” (1985) In the wake of the great “Careless Whisper” scare of 1984, the Enigmas heroically took on the task of restoring the tarnished reputation of the saxophone and making it sound the way God always intended: like Mitch Ryder power-fucking Young Canadians “Hawaii” (1980) Who among us, in rainy and perthe B-52s in the Sonics’ garage. petually soggy Vancouver, can’t relate Dishrags “Past Is Past” (1979) The to Art Bergmann’s classic lines “Let’s revolutionary thing about punk was go to fucking Hawaii, get drunk in the way it was the great equalizer— the sun/I wanna lay in Waikiki, get a anyone could form a band, includ- tan on my buns”? How great is “Haing three scrappy Victoria teenagers waii”, which starts with a killer guitar who relocated to Vancouver as the riff and then somehow, impossibly, Dishrags. Jade Blade, Dale Powers, gets even better? Well, let’s just say it and Scout were not only one of the narrowly edged out the YCs’ “Autocity’s first punk bands, but—more man” for this list, which speaks volimportantly—one of North Amer- umes about its enduring genius. ica’s first all-female punk bands. “Past Is Past” drips with disaffec- Loverboy “Turn Me Loose” (1980) tion, boredom, and proto-grunge From its utterly magnetic opening attitude, which is another way of bars, pitting pregnant open synth saying that, without the likes of the chords against that fat bass line, the Dishrags, there would have been no ’boy’s inadvertent hymn to S&M is a masterclass in big-time pop songHole, L7, or Distillers. Respect. writing. That’s why you’re singing it Said the Whale “I Love You” (2013) in your head right now. The West Coast’s indie ambassadors serve up a dose of surging power Spirit of the West “Home for a pop that will make you want to con- Rest” (1990) Has the Commodore tact estranged siblings and dance Ballroom’s legendary sprung dance the pogo, although not necessarily floor ever generated more liftoff than it did whenever Spirit of the West in that order. swung into boozy anthem “Home for Art Bergmann “Our Little Secret” a Rest”? We think not, and only James (1988) Yeah, “Bound for Vegas” Brown fans will argue otherwise. is the obvious choice, but this anguished and complex exploration Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers of incest shows off Art Bergmann’s “Does Your Mama Know About Motown’s western immaculate pop songcraft along- Me” (1968) side his profound capacity for em- ambassador delivers a soul ballad pathy, something his crusty exter- Smokey Robinson would have killed see next page ior can never quite conceal. SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 117
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The Rascalz’ “Northern Touch” has been called the “Stairway to Heaven” of Canadian rap by no less than Seth Rogen.
The 50 best songs
number of local notables—including Straight music editor Mike Usinger— to enthusiastically lurch around to to have written. Tommy Chong and the song’s bubblegum chorus for its Tom Baird were the actual authors, video. Doot doola doot doo. however, which has some wondering whether Chong could have been an- Limblifter “Tinfoil” (1996) Not conother Burt Bacharach, were it not for tent with membership in one massivethe demon weed. ly popular Vancouver rock band, the Age of Electric’s Ryan and Kurt Dahle Herald Nix “Fugitive Kind” (1986) just had to start a second one so they The enigmatic Herald Nix recorded a could continue to conquer radio in the hauntingly skeletal version of “Fugi- year between AOE LPs. “Tinfoil” has tive Kind” for his 1996 full-length baffling lyrics, but its bombastic guitar Open Up the Sky, but the 1986 version hooks need no translation. from his Fugitive Kind EP is the one to track down. Swirling organ and an Skinny Puppy “Dig It” (1986) epically soaring chorus are the back- Puppy wrings maximum fear and bone of a roots-rock chiller made loathing out of a robotic drumfor sitting in abandoned farmhouses machine beat and minimalist power while a killing moon hangs in the sky. chords, crafting a classic that no self-respecting rivethead would Subhumans “Slave to My Dick” even think about leaving off that all(1979) “Fuck You” was more cathartic important Halloween-party playlist. and anthemic, “Firing Squad” smarter and catchier, and “Urban Gueril- Rascalz “Northern Touch” (1998) las” darker and more menacing. But Kardinal Offishall, Checkmate, for nailing the absolute patheticness Thrust, and Choclair all guest on what of the average male’s mindset in a is inarguably one of the most importcaveman-stomp two minutes and 39 ant records in the history of Canadian seconds, “Slave to My Dick” edges hip-hop. As Seth Rogen told Nardout everything in the Subhumans’ de- wuar, “If you’re a Canadian rap fan, it’s servedly storied back catalogue. our ‘Stairway to Heaven’, basically.” from previous page
Payola$ “Eyes of a Stranger” (1982) Call the Police! Paul Hyde and Bob Rock roped in Bowie’s old mate Mick Ronson to produce the Payola$ No Stranger to Danger album, which in turn gave us one of the era’s better three-and-a-half-minute slabs of knock-off regatta de blanc. Go Four 3 “Just Another Day” (1985) Meaty bass, cavernous drums, a powerfully sweet girl-group vocal, and not a blues progression within miles—the ’80s sound a lot fresher and more innovative than we might remember when you give this one another spin. The band was poised for mega-success at one point, but, you know… Vancouver. Yukon Blonde “Stairway” (2012) It’s the combination of effortlessly infectious hooks and a deep yearning for home that makes “Stairway” the perfect accompaniment to that long, winding drive to the Okanagan. The Grapes of Wrath “All the Things I Wasn’t” (1989) The Grapes of Wrath’s shortest and most understated single is melodic and mournful and will probably make you want to put on an oversized coat and wander around the rain-slicked streets of Gastown. The Evaporators “Hot Dog High” (2012) If ever there was a figure who encapsulates the whimsy of Vancouver, it’s Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Celebrating North Van’s beloved Tomahawk Barbecue restaurant in this high-energy pop-punk bop, Nardwuar and his band invited a
And, unlike follow-up clone “I Really Like You”, it stands up to repeat playings. Bachman-Turner Overdrive “Let It Ride” (1974) It’s not the anthem that “Takin’ Care of Business” was, but “Let It Ride” has got what every rock kid wanted in 1974: cheery Doobie Brothers jangle, ZZ Top– style blues bluster, and guitar parts that suggest Randy Bachman could have given Jeff Beck some competition, if he hadn’t been so focused on, um, takin’ care of business. Copyright “Transfiguration” (1996) If there were any justice in the world, Copyright—the band vocalist Tom Anselmi and guitarist Christian Thorvaldson formed after Slow’s implosion—would have been as big as U2. Has any local singer ever sounded as ominous or as openhearted as Anselmi does on this spectacular recording?
Doug and the Slugs “Too Bad” (1980) Warehouse-party favourites Doug and the Slugs never quite captured their considerable live magic on record; for some reason, the studio environment upped the ham ’n’ cheese quotient in their songs at the expense of the grit. That’s true of Nasty On “The Ship That Died their biggest hit, but the throwback of Shame” (2002) Gorilla-thump doo-wop of “Too Bad” is an undenidrums, sheets-of-distortion guitar, able earworm nonetheless. and hyper-amphetamine vocals come together with brute-force Sarah McLachlan “Into the Fire” results in this rawk-revival epic. (1991) It’s no doubt perverse to talk When singer Jason Grimmer re- about Sarah McLachlan’s squanpeatedly howls “Is this what you dered talent; after all, the Nettwerk wanted?/Is this what you need?” headliner probably sold more units halfway through, the only smart than any Vancouverite this side of thing is to duck and cover. Bryan Adams. But if she hadn’t gone on to become Queen of the Empaths, D.O.A. “World War 3” (1979) she might have made more records Everything that made D.O.A. one of like this simmering, near-psychethe greatest punk bands this planet delic exploration of ecstasy. has ever seen is packed into one viciously perfect song: razor’s-edge Mother Tucker’s Yellow Duck guitar, dangerously inventive drum- “One Ring Jane” (1969) When you ming, and a vocal attack that con- stop to think about it, there’s not veyed pure shock-and-awe outrage. much to this male wish-fulfillment Crazily—given the high-stakes piss- fantasy—but given the lysergic ing matches currently taking place rush of the rhythm section and the around the world—“World War 3” nearly out-of-control guitar solos, once again resonates today. who’s got time to stop and think? More summer-of-sex than Summer Swollen Members “Lady Venom” of Love, “One Ring Jane” remains a (2000) Cracked.com memorably perfect period piece. mocked Swollen Members’ phallocentric moniker, suggesting that Secret V’s “Waiting for the Drugs it’s what the crew settled on after to Take Hold” (1980) Back in the rejecting such names as Tha Erec- day, the Secret V’s were something of shunz, Mornin’ Wood, Hard-Onz, an also-ran in Vancouver, the kind of and Da Penis MCs. Laugh all you band perpetually billed fifth on alllike, but don’t even try to deny that ages shows at the Arcadian Hall. On Prevail and Mad Child absolutely the last-laugh front, the group prokill it on this mashup of hard-rock duced a sombre, midnight-reverie grit and Middle Eastern melody. masterpiece that’s right behind Slow’s “Have Not Been the Same” as Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” the greatest song to ever come out of (2011) Carly Rae Jepsen’s breakout Vancouver. Try not to lose yourself single is a sonic s’more: sweet, gooey, in the sadness when singer Bruce probably not especially good for A. drones “I went and exceeded the your health, and utterly irresistible. recommended dose.” -
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Hershe Babr event n clu Best lesbiaU 2017. Rock!
Every time Every time I move apartments, I spend hours or even days cleaning the place from top to bottom and leave it spotless. And then I move into a place that looks like it was wiped down in 5 minutes with a dirty sock.
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Honey! I’m homeless I firsthand have found out how easy it is to become homeless in Vancouver. Renoviction! The new homeless are full time workers who now have nowhere to go and no help. This city is for the rich and the message is clear, get out!! It is legal for someone to buy full city blocks and kick everyone out...fair?! A place to live is a privilege here...I forgot
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MUSIC
Goldfrapp enjoying life before madness sets in Alison Goldfrapp has a pretty
2 good idea what the future holds
for her, that being admirable considering that she’s in a business famous for its unpredictability. “I’m feeling more philosophical about life right now,” the singer says, by phone from London, England. “I’m really enjoying where I’m living. I’m really enjoying taking photographs. And I’m really loving playing live right now. I like to constantly challenge myself and try out new things, and as I get older I realize how important that is, and how wonderful it is that I can do that. I mean, God almighty, to still be here and doing that is bloody amazing, and I appreciate it more and more. I’m probably going to be bonking mad in about less than 10 years, so I’ve got to make the most of the time that I’ve got left.” Goldfrapp does exactly that on Silver Eye, the seventh and latest album by the recording project that bears her last name. The album has been called a return to the electrolush form of early outings like the Mercury Prize–nominated Felt Mountain (2000) and Black Cherry (2003). There’s some truth to that, with the synths back at the forefront of a band that’s made notable diversions into gothic cabaret pop and folktronica. But at the same time, Silver Eye finds Goldfrapp—which includes Goldfrapp’s collaboratorprogrammer Will Gregory—sounding unusually dark and claustrophobic. Working with producers including John Congleton (St. Vincent) and the Haxan Cloak (Björk), they’ve gone an unusually minimalist and menacing route. Consider “Zodiac Black”, with its disembodied vocals and caverndrip percussion. Or “Faux Suede Drifter”, which sets ’70s ear-candy vocals to what sounds like the soundtrack to John Carpenter’s nightmares. While the songs are dark, that doesn’t mean that the two members of Goldfrapp weren’t having fun.
Alison Goldfrapp (left) gets unusually dark on Silver Eye ; Tim Berne’s Snakeoil prefers to keep moving forward.
Goldfrapp herself says that reviews that have suggested otherwise aren’t exactly on base. “Someone is always disappointed,” she says with an exasperated laugh. “I mean, Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t bother us in the slightest. You can’t be everything to everyone all the time. I do know that I’m in a good place—probably a better place than I have been in a while.” If all this sounds like the musings of someone who’s been doing some serious introspecting, that’s not by accident. Goldfrapp says that those who’ve been following the band through its various stylistic phases will notice threads connecting to past releases, her fascination with nature and its endless mysteries being a big one. And, on a more personal level, it’s a genuine thrill that she’s still not only making music with Goldfrapp, but doing so at the quality level that first got England and the rest of the world buzzing 17 years ago. “I don’t really know how to elaborate on where I’m at, except to say that maybe it’s about being a bit older,” she says. “And that I’m really enjoying playing live at the moment. I’m also fitter than I have been in a long time. There are all these elements
Three Decades of Nardwuar
a 2017 Vancouver International Jazz Festival highlight; clarinetist Oscar Noriega joined local guitarist Gordon Grdina for a riotous show in April; and percussionist Ches Smith’s trio with violinist Mat Maneri and pianist Craig Taborn played what might have been the concert of the year at the Western Front last February.) They’re all astonishing musicians, and just as ready as their leader to move boldly forward. “The chemistry is strong, and the trust element is there,” Berne reports, “so the most whacked-out shit isn’t going to faze anyone. I mean, last night we did about 12 new tunes that we haven’t played before, and I was shitting in my pants before the gig. And then we did it, and it was like, ‘Oh, yeah. Now I know why we do this!’ ” Berne laughs, noting that the chemistry is so strong that it’s hard to tell when Snakeoil is playing one of his tightly written tunes or engaging in collective improvisation. “There are people who say they trust the band, and then there are those who actually do,” he elaborates. “And once the musicians know that, it really frees them up. It’s like Miles [Davis]. I mean, that’s the big story about Miles: even though he was a hard-ass, he didn’t tell those guys how to play unless he had to, I’m sure, and that’s kind of how I feel. “I want to be surprised on my own gigs,” he adds. “It would be very easy for me to arrange everything into the ground and make sure it worked every time, but for me that’s kind of a copout. I get to exert my influence with the composing, so I don’t really need to influence everything. If I want a specific mood I’ll compose something and get that mood—and then I’ll create something that just makes us want to improvise.”
that have me feeling good about life, Vancouver. Nor will you hear the even though shit things have, and ironically bleak “Hora Feliz”, the anarchic nod to bebop that is “Inciwill always, happen.” > MIKE USINGER dentals Contact”, or any of the other tracks on Berne’s new band effort. Goldfrapp plays the Vogue on Friday For the Brooklyn-based saxophonist, (September 22). it’s already time to move on. “Last night was our CD release, and we played all new music at it,” Berne reports, on the line from his home. “That’s why you have to buy the CD if you want to hear it!” Opening with a piano motif But there’s a method to this madthat sounds like giant ants as- ness. “Usually when I record stuff— cending—or descending; it’s hard and this is a serious response—it’s to tell—an M.C. Escher staircase, when I feel like it’s ready to be docu“Sideshow” is most definitely an mented,” Berne explains. “And one of attention-getter. The central track the reasons that I record consistently on Incidentals, the latest ECM re- is to force myself to move on. I always lease from Tim Berne’s Snakeoil, is feel like the recorded document is sort also a 26-minute trip that journeys of the end of that phase, partly because through several different but equally it is. And the other thing is that you compelling landscapes: a punchy, scrutinize the music so much when full-band reiteration of that opening you’re recording and mixing and theme; a rattling piano-and-percus- making decisions that you usually sion interlude; a moody, reverb-laced get sick of it. It just forces me to move bass-clarinet meditation; a surreal on—which shouldn’t be that hard, but processional with strong prog over- I could use all the help I can get.” tones; a tympani solo that sounds like Berne certainly can’t complain stars exploding; and, finally, a long, about the assistance he receives from > ALEXANDER VARTY slow lament with a bittersweet fade. the other members of his band, who It’s one of the most extraordinary are no strangers to Vancouver. (Pianist things you’ll hear this year—but you Matt Mitchell’s appearance with Can- Tim Berne’s Snakeoil plays the Westwon’t hear it when Snakeoil plays adian saxophonist Anna Webber was ern Front on Sunday (September 24).
Snakeoil chemistry strong on the punchy Incidentals
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from page 113
on YouTube, which has done wonders on the front—it’s got to the point where climbing into the ring is something of an honour. (Having the likes of an amazed Tyler, the Creator beaming while asking “What the fuck? How you know this shit?” evidently goes a long way.) Such encounters might explain why he’s able to crack the notoriously insular hip-hop world—his affection for which, once again, can be traced back to CiTR. “I discovered rap at CiTR,” he says. “I remember somebody played me N.W.A for the first time, and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I literally couldn’t believe it. A lot of my prejudices about music fell away because of CiTR, and that’s why I recommend that anyone join their local campus radio station—you can learn so much.” And that desire to keep learning is what’s made him an icon. Along, that is, with a personality tic that leaves him completely unfazed when an interview crashes and burns. (Even for Nardwuar, things don’t always go as well as encounters with the likes of Pharrell Williams, who once gushingly informed him, “Your research is second to none. Second to none. And I can only imagine that you probably do the same kind of research with every band that you interview. So that’s… It’s pretty impressive, man.” What makes his interviews so memorable is, of course, the prep that goes into coming up with questions that no one else has thought of. And the reason for that prep, he suggests, is that he—even after decades of grilling celebrities—knows there’s only one way to go into a room. “I guess the way that I work is scared,” he says candidly. “I’m scared talking to you. I’m scared talking to a brand-new band. I’m scared interviewing Lydia Lunch. There is no differentiating between a porn star or a politician. It’s good to be scared because it shows that you care. A lot of people aren’t scared, and because of that they do a bad job and bad interviews.” He continues with, “A lot of people that I hold up as idols that I’ve interviewed—the Sonics, Joey Shithead, the Pointed Sticks—love press. They love joking around. So, in other words, everyone else that I talk to is just gravy for me. If they happen to respond negatively to me, then so be it. It’s like, ‘Bring it on.’” And bringing it on is exactly what Nardwuar will be doing starting Thursday (September 21). First up will be his CiTR 20-hour marathon featuring classic interviews (“Mikhail Gorbachev, from Dennis Hopper to Wesley Willis to everything in between”) and, of course, the manic mainlining-sugar energy that’s been part of the Nardwuar the Human Serviette Radio Show since 1987.
The Evaporators, Nardwuar’s outlet for stupidly catchy garage-rawk numbers like “Addicted to Cheese”.
That will be followed by an Evaporators all-ages show at 1739 Venables where—if there’s a garage-rawk God—classics like “Addicted to Cheese” and “Hot Dog High” will be on tap along with offerings from the band’s most recent release, the stupidly catchy Ogopogo Punk. Nardwuar will also be showing rare videointerview footage and sharing stories about a career that shows no signs of slowing down. One of the most important things he can offer as advice? That’s easy: stay curious and always be willing to learn, something that even he occasionally has to remind himself to do. “I’m constantly learning,” he says. “Someone once said to me, ‘We have a young country singer coming to town backing up Brad Paisley. Would you like to talk to her?’ I was going to ask whoever I was freelancing for at the moment, but they turned me down. And do you know who that young country singer turned out to be? Taylor Swift. What I should have said was ‘I’ll just go for it and do the interview anyways.’ But I didn’t.” Live and learn. The Nardwuar the Human Serviette Radio Show Marathon of interviews starts at 9 p.m. on Thursday (September 21) and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday (September 22). The Evaporators play the Hall at 1739 Venables on Saturday (September 23).
Read our interview at straight.com
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 121
MUSIC
Peach Pit welcomes the rain with Normal Peach Pyramid is dreamy and ethereal on Repeating Myself; Apollo touches down with a chillwave/disco-funk masterpiece LOCAL D I S C S
drum and a pumping ’80s synth riff, the disco-stomper boasts a growling bass line and a breakdown that a late-career Michael Jackson would be proud of. “Disco Paradise”, too, reveals warm synth pads and a groovy bass riff, complemented by a mix of vocal parts—a clear development in Jasper’s production technique. Dipping into the territory of electropop-focused Flume, neo-soul outfit the Internet, and local producer Pomo, Apollo has opened up a new avenue for Jasper—one that, given the relevance of his new sound, will carry him far.
PEACH PIT Being So Normal (Kingfisher Bluez)
Despite the title of its previous
2 EP, Peach Pit has certainly not
been doing Sweet FA since its record was released last year. Industriously writing a full 10-track LP in nearly as many months, the group has crafted a debut album, Being So Normal, which is anything but. Occupying similar sonic territory to one-time Vancouverite Mac DeMarco, the record’s laid-back, summery jams belie their complexity. Kickoff number “Drop the Guillotine”—a song that has fast become the group’s calling card after racking up over 100,000 YouTube views—is as close to a rock anthem as the band’s slacker-indie sound gets, recounting the tale of singer Neil Smith’s best friend swooping in to steal his high-school crush. Storytelling is the linchpin of the album, with Smith’s entertaining lyrics ranging from the tongue-incheek desire not to go to an electronic-music night on “Techno Show”, to the title track’s discussion of a lost love after a hair restyle. Characterized by lazy guitar chords and jangly solos, the four-piece’s signature sound lopes along at a leisurely pace. That’s not to say that the record isn’t versatile, though. “Alrighty Aphrodite” steers the album in a new direction with a muted, minor riff, supported by rock chords dripping with overdrive and an aggressive wah-pedal solo. “Hot Knifer”, too, shows off Smith’s velvety tones by stripping away the band’s intricate arrangements in favour of harmonized, bluesy vocals and jazzbrushed drums. Pitched perfectly at the turn of the season, Being So Normal is the ideal soundtrack for staring out the window at the gentle Vancouver rain, dreaming of June, and taking a nice long hit on a bong. > KATE WILSON
PEACH PYRAMID Repeating Myself (Oscar St. Records)
As a veteran of the music scene, New Pornographers’ Kathryn Calder carries a weighty local influence. Recently setting up a new label, Oscar Street Records, the singer combed the West Coast for the best unsigned talent. Nabbing a coveted spot on the roster, then, is a
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> KATE WILSON
EYE BENDER Tomorrow (Independent)
In an era when guitar bands
2 continue to be supplanted by
Peach Pit plays everything from leisurely rock to velvety blues on Being So Normal. Lester Lyons-Hookham photo.
big responsibility—but Peach Pyramid, the alias of Jen Severtson, more than stands up to the pressure. Severtson’s biography is particularly relevant to Repeating Myself. Landing in Victoria by way of Calgary, the artist has experienced feelings of displacement and uncertainty that surface in the lyrics of the album. Exploring themes of abuse and healing, lines like “Tugging my strings, I won’t feel a thing/Make me a fool again and again” from opening number “Getting Cold” rub up against “It’s true/I do/Want to give in to you” on the more upbeat “Truth”. Don’t imagine the record to be heavy, though. Before tuning into the lyrics, you’ll think Repeating Myself has all the hallmarks of a summer album. Juxtaposed with her heartfelt discussions of life and love are breezy, elegant melodies and reverb-soaked, swirling gui-
tars, replete with hazy harmonies. Severtson’s voice is f lawless when skipping between pitches on tracks like “We Glide/She Sighs” and manages to slip between dreamily ethereal and aggressively powerful on album standout “My Collapse”. Add to that a selection of pop hooks that Feist would give her right arm for, and you’ve got a record that’s designed to calm and enthrall as much as reveal Severtson’s deepest thoughts. > KATE WILSON
APOLLO Skydive (Independent)
Far from being in freefall, Sky-
2 dive is a tight, masterfully pro-
duced electronic record that runs the gamut from chillwave to disco funk. But it nearly didn’t turn out that way. Last month, Joel Jasper—the producer behind Apollo—had his laptop
stolen out of his apartment when he was just metres away in his bedroom. All the project files and stems for the tracks were lost, but, by chance, Jasper had uploaded the nearly finished songs onto his private SoundCloud account a few days prior. After a Kickstarter campaign to replace the laptop raised $1,500 in a week, his debut album was finally released. Beginning his career as Kalibo— an identity that has seen Jasper open for the likes of Hot Chip, Bondax, and Kungs—the musician has left fingerprints of his first project all over the record. That’s by no means a bad thing. While a Kalibo track might include a chilled house beat and a female R&B vocal feature, Apollo sees Jasper embracing a funkier, Kaytranada-esque vibe but chopping up similar vocal samples. Case in point: the album’s second number, standout “Arrival”. Fuelled by a strong four-on-the-floor kick
DJs, making a rock album is a bold decision—especially when that record is more Black Sabbath, Rush, and Fleetwood Mac than Imagine Dragons. Quality, though, is timeless—which is good news for upand-comers Eye Bender. Heavily influenced by classic ’70s and ’80s acts, guitarist and band leader Victor Yong pours his efforts into resurrecting a genre so good that we’re not sure why it disappeared in the first place. Faithful to the familiar crunch of hard rock but never shying from adding melodic piano riffs to the mix, Eye Bender has created a seven-track debut that uses the wealth of experience of its players to maximum effect. Coming alive on tracks like “Tomorrow”—promoted by a slick, Twilight-esque YouTube video that’s already garnered 14,000 views—the group crafts catchy pop melodies and overlays them with overdrive-soaked guitar. Shifting from a classic love song to a ballsout rock jam, the track sums up the mood that runs throughout Tomorrow: loud and boisterous, but harmonically complex. Singer Betty J. contributes powerful, gritty vocals that are refreshing in a typically maledominated genre. The singer shows off her range best on the menacing “YOU”—a track that owes a lot to Deep Purple at its darkest. Sure, new classic rock is becoming harder to come by. But as Yong and his bandmates prove, just because almost nobody is doing it these days doesn’t mean it’s not cool. > KATE WILSON
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Hastings). Tix $16 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketfly.com, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/1004/jim-byrnes-birthdaybash-iii-with-guests/.
music/ timeout CONCERTS < CLUBS & VENUES < OUT OF TOWN <
CONCERTS 2JUST ANNOUNCED DARK TRANQUILITY Swedish deathmetal band, with Warbringer, Dead Asylum, and Striker. Sep 28, VIP doors 6 pm, regular doors 7 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $33 at the door/ $60/27 in advance (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and theinvisibleorange.tunestub.com/. DIANA PANTON TRIO Canadian jazz vocalist performs with her band. Sep 28-29, 7:30-9:30 pm, Kay Meek Centre (1700 Mathers Ave., West Van). Tix $29-38, info www.kaymeek.com/. FOLK FABULOUS II Collaborative folk music by Beth Southwell, Jesse Waldman, Marc L’Esperance, Terri Upton, Kathleen Nisbett, and Noah Walker. Sep 28, 8 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix $33-40, info tickets.shadboltcentre.com/. FROM LA: TAMIR HENDELMAN TRIO Israeli-born L.A. pianist/composer Tamir Hendelman famously drives the Jeff Hamilton Trio and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Tamir returns to Frankie’s to lead his own L.A.–based trio in an imaginative approach to jazz standards with a hard-swinging presence. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Sep 29-30, 8 pm, Frankie’s Jazz Club (765 Beatty). Tix $25, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. KILLY Canadian rapper performs with guests Kal Capone and Jolin Ras. Sep 29, doors 10 pm, Alexander Gastown (91 Powell). Tix $15 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketweb.ca/. COLTER WALL Canadian country-folk singer-songwriter tours in support of inaugural EP Imaginary Appalachia. Oct 11, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $22 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. HUDSON Coastal Jazz presents American jazz supergroup composed of Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, John Medeski, and Larry Grenadier. Oct 18, 8 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $73/61 at www. coastaljazz.ca/. ANI DIFRANCO American folk-rock singer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, songwriter, and businessperson tours in support of latest album Binary. Nov 6, 8 pm, Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix $74.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketstonight.ca/. FROM NEW YORK: JEREMY PELT QUINTET Coastal Jazz presents the American jazz trio composed of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, drummer Jonathan Barber, pianist Victor Gould, bassist Vincente Archer, and percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo. Nov 24-25, 8 pm, Frankie’s Jazz Club (765 Beatty). Tix $25, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. MILKY CHANCE German electronicarock band performs on its Blossom Tour, with guest Lewis Capaldi. Feb 3-4, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Sep 22, 10 am, $45 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. COIN American indie-pop band performs on its North American Tour 2018. Mar 13, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix on sale Sep 22, 10 am, $22 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
2THIS WEEK APARTMENT HOUSE Evening of music by the U.K. experimental-contemporary group. Sep 21, 8 pm, Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre (149 W. Hastings). Tix $15/10//7, info www.facebook.com/ events/341498799612089/. HONEY TONGUES Canadian soul-jazz band, with guests Warless. Sep 21, 8 pm, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Info www.face book.com/events/463677394015153/. GIUDA Italian glam-punk band, with guests Buster Shuffle and the Vicious Cycles. Sep 21, 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $30 at the door/22 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketfly.com/, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/998/giuda-withguests-buster-shuffle-the-vicious-cycles/. JIM BYRNES BIRTHDAY BASH III The Rickshaw presents a birthday bash for legendary bluesman Jim Byrnes, with guests the Sojourners and Old.Soul.Rebel. Sep 22, 7 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E.
CAYLA BROOKE Vancouver jazz-rock vocalist performs at an album-release concert for Plush Red Chair. Sep 22, 7:30 pm, St. James Community Square (3214 W. 10th). Tix $30, info www.caylabrooke.com/. JOHN STETCH AND JAMES DANDERFER DUO Juno nominated pianist John Stetch and clarinetist James Danderfer perform tunes by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin. Sep 22, 8-9:30 pm, Roy Barnett Recital Hall (6361 Memorial Rd., UBC). Free admission, info www.johnstetch.com/. HIP SHAKIN’ MAMAS Dance to music by Eighth Avenue Six, Cass King and the Next Right Thing, and Astro Zero. Loretta Laurin and David Yates lead a blues-dance lesson at 8 pm. Sep 22, 8-11:55 pm, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Tix $10-15, info ow.ly/g1Ge30eLYlY. HENDRIK MEURKENS TORONTO SAMBA CONNECTION Germany-born and NYC–based chromatic harmonica and vibraphone virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens digs Canada. A legit successor in the tradition of Toots Thielemans, Meurkens reunites with his 2006 band, the Toronto Samba Connection. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Sep 22-23, 8 pm, Frankie’s Jazz Club (765 Beatty). Tix $20, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. ALLAN RAYMAN American R&B/hip-hop singer-songwriter performs in support of recently released album Roadhouse 01. Sep 22, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/. GOLDFRAPP London-based electronica duo tours in support of latest release Silver Eye. Sep 22, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $46.50 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat Records and www.ticketfly.com/. J RODDY WALSTON AND THE BUSINESS American rock band, with guests Sleepwalkers. Sep 23, 7 pm, Venue (881 Granville). Tix $18, info www.bplive.ca/. NARDWUAR CITR RADIO SHOW 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nardwuar’s CiTR radio show with music by the Evaporators and Owl Empire. Sep 23, 7-11 pm, The Hall. Tix $10 at Neptoon, Zulu Records, and www. eventbrite.ca/, info www.nardwuar.com/. BIG EASY FUNK ENSEMBLE The Affordable Concert Series presents the local funk band, with guests Disco Funeral and Subscura. Sep 23, 7:50 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix 18/15, info www.riotheatre.ca/.
Liz Mitchell, with guests ABRA Cadabra. Sep 25, 8 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix from $62 (including service charges and fees) at www.ticketstonight.ca/, info www.cityofnations.org/.
FUTURE ISLANDS Baltimore synth-pop band tours in support of latest release The Far Field. Sep 24-25, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix for Sep 25 show SOLD OUT. Tix for Sep 24 show $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketfly.com/. VAGABON New York City indie-rock singer-songwriter tours in support of debut release Infinite Worlds, with guest Nnamdi Ogbonnaya. Sep 25, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. SHEER MAG Philadelphia punk band tours in support of upcoming debut release Need to Feel Your Love, with guests Woolworm and BB. Sep 25, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $14 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketweb.ca/.
8 pm, show 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $43.75 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
JAPANESE BREAKFAST Philadelphia indie-pop musician tours in support of upcoming release Soft Sounds From Another Planet, with guests Mannequin Pussy and the Spirit of the Beehive. Sep 26, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketweb.ca/. BROCKHAMPTON Los Angeles–based hip-hop collective tours in support of debut release Saturation. Sep 27, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $20 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketfly.com/. BALKAN SHMALKAN East Vancouver dance-party orchestra. Sep 27, 8 pm, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Info www.facebook. com/events/1692217187464942/.
Sep 28, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/.
ELLIOTT BROOD Canadian folk-rock trio tours in support of upcoming sixth fulllength studio album Ghost Gardens. Sep 28, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom. Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. INVSN Swedish post-punk band tours in support of latest release The Beautiful Stories. Sep 28, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). NOTE: Moved from the previous venue of The Cobalt. Tix $18 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. ZEDD Russian-born German record producer, DJ, and musician performs on his Echo Tour 2017, with guests Grey and Lophiile. Sep 29, Thunderbird Arena (6066 Thunderbird Blvd., UBC). Tix $66.50/46.50/36.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
VANCE JOY Australian indie-pop singersongwriter tours in support of latest single “Lay It On Me”, with guests Amy Shark and Chappell Roan. Sep 27, doors 7 pm, show MIRANDA LAMBERT American country singer-songwriter performs on her 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix Highway Vagabond Tour, with guest HYCROFT JAZZ WITH MAYA RAE Maya $49.50 (plus service charges and fees) at Brandy Clark. Sep 29, 7 pm, Rogers Rae and Sami Ghawi blend acoustic www.livenation.com/. Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix at www instruments with tempos, harmonies, and .livenation.com/. lyrics. Sep 26, 5-9 pm, Hycroft Manor (1489 GOLDLINK American rapper performs McRae). Tix $33, info www.uwcvancouver. on his At What Cost North American Tour, COLDPLAY British rock band led by Chris ca/event/jazz-club-maya-rae-sami-ghawi/. with guest Masego Music. Sep 27, 8 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix Martin performs on its A Head Full of Dreams Tour 2017. Sep 29, doors 5 pm, JANET JACKSON American pop-R&B $30, info www.bplive.ca/. show 7 pm, BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific artist performs on her State of the World Boulevard). Tix $199.50/139.50/89.50/59.50 Tour. Sep 26, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, GOLDIE U.K. DJ, with guests J.F. Killah, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix Erski, and Flørist. Sep 27, 10 pm, Venue (881 /29.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. $125/89/59/29 (plus service charges and Granville). Tix $20, info www.bplive.ca/. fees) at www.livenation.com/. BEN FOLDS American rock singer-com2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS poser performs on his Paper Airplane DAMIAN “JR. GONG” MARLEY Jamaican Request Tour. Sep 30, doors 7 pm, show ALLAH-LAS Los Angeles rock band tours roots-reggae singer-songwriter performs see next page in support of latest release Calico Review. on his Stony Hill Fall Tour. Sep 26, doors
GARNET ROGERS The Rogue Folk Club presents the Canadian folk singersongwriter. Sep 23, 8 pm, St. James Hall (3214 W. 10th). Tix $32, info www.roguefolk. bc.ca/concerts/ev17092320/. THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA WITH BEN HEPPNER Grammy Award–winning gospel ensemble coheadlines with the Canadian dramatic tenor. Sep 23, 8 pm, Chan Shun Concert Hall (6265 Crescent Rd., Chan Centre at UBC). Info www.chan centre.com/. THE SADIES Toronto country-rock band tours in support of latest release Northern Passages, with guest Louise Burns. Sep 23, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. APOCALYPTICA Finnish orchestral rockers perform on their Plays Metallica By Four Cellos Tour. Sep 23, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $39.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. HORNS AT THE ATRIUM The Hard Rubber New Music Society presents an afternoon of horn-forward music by John Korsrud, Kent Wallace, Andrew Broughton, Rod Murray, Saul Berson, Ben Henriques, Daniel Miles Kane, Bill Runge, Victor Noriega, and Johnny Tobin. Sep 24, 2-6 pm, Woodward’s Atrium (149 W. Hastings, at Abbott). Free admission, info www.hardrubber.com/. TIM BERNE’S SNAKEOIL Coastal Jazz presents the American jazz composer and alto saxophonist and his band, composed of Ches Smith, Oscar Noriega, and Matt Mitchell. Sep 24, 8 pm, Western Front (303 E. 8th). Tix $27, info www.coastaljazz. ca/tim_berne_snakeoil. ROLLIN’ TRAINWRECK RELEASE PARTY MyTone Records is pleased to announce Rollin’ Trainwreck’s Release Party of the single “Already Gone”. The Rollin’ Trainwreck is a bluegrass country–rock inspired trio consisting of Jesse Burch, Philip Puxley and Phil Bell. Sep 24, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, The Roxy Cabaret (932 Granville). Tix $7, info bit.ly/2fik6nx. THE END TREE Vancouver chamber-pop band performs at an album-release show for Everything I Can’t. Sep 24, 8-11 pm, The Cultch (1895 Venables). Tix $20/15, info www.theendtree.com/. THEE OH SEES San Francisco garagerock band tours in support of latest releases A Weird Exits and An Odd Entrances. Sep 24, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $27 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/. BONEY M. R&B/Eurodisco band (“Rasputin”) with original lead vocalist
SEPTEMBER 21 – 28 / 2017 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 123
Music time out
from previous page
8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $40 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
NICKELBACK Multiplatinum hard-rockers play tunes from new album Feed the Machine, with guests Cheap Trick and Shaman’s Harvest. Oct 1, 6:15 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix from $25 to $125 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. THE WEEKND Toronto-based R&B singersongwriter performs on the second leg of his Starboy: Legend of the Fall 2017 World Tour. Oct 5, 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix at www.livenation.com/. IMAGINE DRAGONS American alt-rock band performs in support of upcoming studio album Evolve, with guests Grouplove and K.Flay. Oct 8, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $99.50/89.50/69.50/45/29.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. MS. LAURYN HILL AND NAS The R&B powerhouse and the rap superstar will coheadline, with guests Chronixx. Oct 11, doors 5:30 pm, show 6:30 pm, Pacific Coliseum (Hastings Park, 100 N. Renfrew). Tix $177/127/101.50/77/37 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. KINGS OF LEON American rock band performs on its Walls Tour, with guests Dawes. Oct 11, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $85/65/45/35 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. ALT-J English indie-rock band tours in support of upcoming album Relaxer. Oct 13, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Thunderbird Arena (6066 Thunderbird Blvd., UBC). Tix $65/55/45 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. JIMMY BUFFETT American folk-pop musician, songwriter, author, actor, and businessman known for hits like “Margaritaville” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”. Oct 13, 8 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix at www.livenation.com/. ARCADE FIRE Canadian indie-rock band performs on its Infinite Content tour in support of its upcoming fifth album, Everything Now. Oct 14, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Pacific Coliseum (Hastings Park, 100 N. Renfrew). Tix $95/60/45/35 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS Mississippi blues-rock band tours in support of latest release Prayer for Peace. Oct 15, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, The Imperial (319 Main). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketweb.ca/. DEPECHE MODE English electronica band performs on its Global Spirit Tour. Oct 25, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $125/95/75/49 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. ROGER WATERS Prog-rock legend and former Pink Floyd member performs on his Us + Them Tour. Oct 28-29, 8 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix from $52 to $247 (plus service charge and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
BEST 2 MEDIA, ARTS & CULTURE JAZZ/BLUES VENUE
LOCAL BAND (UNSIGNED)
1. Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar 765 Beatty Street 2. Blue Martini Jazz Cafe 1516 Yew Street 3. Pat’s Pub & Brewhouse 403 East Hastings Street
1. The Boom Booms 2. Redrick Sultan 3. Two Apple Tobacco
PICKUP BAR (M SEEKING F)
LIVE MUSIC VENUE
1. Commodore Ballroom 868 Granville Street 2. Orpheum Theatre 601 Smithe Street 3. Vogue Theatre 918 Granville Street LOCAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
1. Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2. TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 3. FVDED in the Park PLACE TO GO DANCING
1. Celebrities Nightclub 1022 Davie Street 2. The Roxy Cabaret 932 Granville Street 3. Fox Cabaret 2321 Main Street
CLUBS & VENUES BACKSTAGE LOUNGE Arts Club Theatre, 1585 Johnston, Granville Island, 604-6871354. Vancouver’s only live-music venue on the water, with music nightly. Hot Jazz Jam night on Tue.
don’t miss out! For up-to-the-minute, searchable Music Time Out listings, visit
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BILTMORE CABARET 2755 Prince Edward, 604-676-0541. 2BROCKHAMPTON Sep 27 2COLTER WALL Oct 11 2SINGLE MOTHERS Oct 19 2SONGHOY BLUES Oct 27 2KALI UCHIS Nov 1 2HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER Nov 3 2MANDOLIN ORANGE Nov 8 2SON LITTLE Nov 11 2HAMILTON LEITHAUSER Nov 14 2JULIA JACKLIN Nov 18 2SALES Dec 1 BLUE MARTINI JAZZ CAFE 1516 Yew, 604-428-2691. Live jazz, soul, and blues. Closed on Mondays.
JAY-Z The American rapper and businessman performs on his 4:44 tour in support of latest album 4:44. Dec 11, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix at www.livenation.com/.
COBALT 917 Main, 778-918-3671. 2RAINER MARIA Oct 6 2MICKEY AVALON Oct 7 2THE CRIBS Oct 10 2BEND SINISTER Oct 13 2WAND Oct 21 2THE BABE RAINBOW Oct 25 2HOCKEY DAD Oct 28 2LEE KATY PERRY American pop superstar RANALDO Oct 29 2TED LEO AND THE (“Teenage Dream”, “Firework”) performs PHARMACISTS Nov 7 2THE ELWINS AND tunes from upcoming album Witness. Feb FAST ROMANTICS Nov 11 2TENNIS Dec 2 5, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix on sale May 26, 12 pm, at www.ticketmaster.ca/. 2METZ Dec 8 2ALEX LAHEY Dec 12
MBS
CERTIFIED MASSAGE SUMMER SPECIAL Bodyscrub $65/70min. Waxing 20% off. Massage $28 604-438-8714
Leelawadee Thai Spa 889
Helmcken St. 778.886.3675 www.leelawadeethaispa.com
RADIO HOST(S)
PICKUP BAR (F SEEKING M)
DANCE/DJ CLUB
1. The Roxy Cabaret 932 Granville Street 2. Bar None 1222 Hamilton Street 3. Railway Stage & Beer Café 579 Dunsmuir Street
1. Celebrities Nightclub 1022 Davie Street 2. Venue 881 Granville Street 3. Fortune Sound Club 147 East Pender Street NIGHTCLUB
GAY BAR
1. Bar None 1222 Hamilton Street 2. The Roxy Cabaret 932 Granville Street 3. Caprice Nightclub 967 Granville Street
1. Celebrities Nightclub 1022 Davie Street 2. Pumpjack Pub 1167 Davie Street 3. Fountainhead Pub 1025 Davie Street
PLACE FOR KARAOKE
1. Funky Winker Beans 37 West Hastings Street 2. Fantacity 1133 Robson Street 3. Numbers Cabaret 1042 Davie Street
COMMODORE BALLROOM 868 Granville, 604-739-4550. 2ALLAN RAYMAN Sep 22 2APOCALYPTICA Sep 23 2THEE OH SEES Sep 24 2DAMIAN “JR. GONG” MARLEY Sep 26 2GOLDLINK Sep 27 2ELLIOTT BROOD Sep 28 2THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS Sep 29 2BILLY BRAGG Sep 30 2STEVE EARLE AND THE DUKES Oct 1 254-40 Oct 6 2BASS COAST FESTIVAL SHOWCASE Oct 8 2KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD Oct 9 2GAVIN DEGRAW Oct 14 2PAUL WELLER Oct 16 2STRIKE A CHORD GALA Oct 19 2BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE Oct 20 2THE BLACK ANGELS Oct 22 2SLOWDIVE Oct 23 2MILKY CHANCE Oct 24 2TASH SULTANA Oct 25 2SILVERSUN PICKUPS Oct 26 2ACTION BRONSON Oct 27 2THE BACARDI BOOHAHA Oct 28 2IN THIS MOMENT AND HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD Nov 2 26LACK Nov 3 2CURRENT SWELL Nov 4 2CHILDREN OF BODOM Nov 8 2THIRD EYE BLIND Nov 9 2HEADSTONES Nov 10 2THE DEVIL MAKES THREE Nov 12 2GWAR Nov 13 2IBEYI Nov 15 2BARENAKED LADIES Nov 17 2DEATH FROM ABOVE Nov 21 2THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE Nov 24 2MOGWAI Nov 25 2PERIPHERY AND ANIMALS AS LEADERS Nov 28 2JONNY LANG Nov 29 2CHARLES BRADLEY AND HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES Dec 29
TAMIR HENDELMAN TRIO Sep 29 2TAMIR HENDELMAN TRIO Sep 29 2JOHN STETCH AND VULNERAVILLE Oct 19 2MARQUIS HILL BLACKTET Oct 21 2FROM NEW YORK: JEREMY PELT QUINTET Nov 24 FUNKY WINKER BEANS 37 W. Hastings. Evil Bastard Karaoke Experience seven days a week. THE IMPERIAL 319 Main, 604-868-0494. 2SAKE FEST VANCOUVER 2017 Sep 28 2AUSTRA Sep 29 2GRYFFIN Oct 8 2LEON Oct 13 2DAVID DUCHOVNY Oct 14 2NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS Oct 15 2PAUL KELLY Oct 16 2NOTHING BUT THIEVES Oct 19 2THE PAPERBOYS Oct 20 2YELLE Oct 23 2MARTHA WAINWRIGHT Oct 29 2WITT LOWRY Oct 31 2ALEX CLARE Nov 9 2TREVOR HALL Nov 11 2NOAH GUNDERSEN Nov 12 2SHIGETO Nov 18 2DISPATCH Nov 26 2LEIF VOLLEBEKK Dec 6
FORTUNE SOUND CLUB 147 E. Pender, 604-569-1758. 2LIL B Sep 23 2ALLAHLAS Sep 28 2BAD SUNS Oct 14 2THE UNDERACHIEVERS Oct 31
IVANHOE PUB 1038 Main, 604-608-1444. 2HARPDOG BROWN Sep 21 2RHYTHM ST. Sep 22 2CHRIS NEWTON BAND Sep 23 2SONS OF THE HOE Sep 24 2HARPDOG BROWN Sep 28 2BLIND PIGEON Sep 29 2FULL MOON Sep 30 2SONS OF THE HOE Oct 1 268 LIPS Oct 6 2PURPLE GANG Oct 7 2SONS OF THE HOE Oct 8 2HARPDOG BROWN Oct 12 2RHYTHM ST. Oct 13 2HARPDOG BROWN Oct 14 2SONS OF THE HOE Oct 15 2HARPDOG BROWN Oct 19 2BEATEN PATH Oct 20 2BLIND PIGEON Oct 21 2SONS OF THE HOE Oct 22
FRANKIE’S JAZZ CLUB 765 Beatty, 778727-0337. 2HENDRIK MEURKENS TORONTO SAMBA CONNECTION Sep 22 2FROM LA:
RAILWAY STAGE AND BEER CAFÉ 579 Dunsmuir, 604-564-1430. 24 taps of local craft beer. Comedy Tue, darts Wed, live
Thai Massage
778-886-3675 D/T.
AESTHETICS $50/1hr Massage. Air-Conditioned. 604-709-6168
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS Treatment for Perfectionism Study
124 THE GEORGIA GEORGIA STRAIGHT STRAIGHT SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER21 21––28 28//2017 2017
1. Nat and Drew (103.5 QMFM) 2. Jonny, Holly & Nira (94.5 FM Virgin Radio) 3. Stephen Quinn (CBC Radio One)
1. Hershe Bar Various locations 2. Pumpjack Pub 1167 Davie Street 3. The Odyssey 686 West Hastings Street
1. The Matinée 2. Mother Mother 3. No Sinner
1. 604 Records/Light Organ Records 2. Mint Records 3. Groundwerk Recordings
1. The Roxy Cabaret 932 Granville Street 2. Cambie Pub 300 Cambie Street 3. The Bimini Public House 2010 West 4th Avenue
LESBIAN CLUB EVENT/BAR
LOCAL BAND (SIGNED)
INDEPENDENT LABEL
HOME & GARDEN SERVICES
CLEANERS
music Wed, Thu, Fri, and all day/night Sat. $3 Beers til 3, $5 beers til 5. 2THE SHED Sep 21 2MURRAY ATKINSON, YEAR OF THE WOLF, OWLFACE Sep 22 2THE JUDYS, THE TOP BOOST Sep 23 2THE BLAZING ARROWS Sep 28 2JOKES Oct 3
RICKSHAW THEATRE 254 E. Hastings, 604-681-8915. 2TURBODOJO Sep 20 2GIUDA Sep 21 2JIM BYRNES BIRTHDAY BASH III Sep 22 2THE SADIES Sep 23 2SHEER MAG Sep 25 2DARK TRANQUILITY Sep 28 2VOODOO GLOW SKULLS Sep 30 2THE MENZINGERS Oct 6 2PETUNIA AND THE VIPERS Oct 7 2BORIS Oct 8 2SAM COFFEY AND THE IRON LUNGS Oct 12 2ART D’ECCO, ACTORS, PURITANS, AND CROATIA Oct 13 2POPTONE: CANCELLED Oct 13 2COMEDY SHOCKER XIV Oct 14 2THE ACCIDENTALS AND WEST OF MEMPHIS Oct 14 2THE AFGHAN WHIGS Oct 17 2CATTLE DECAPITATION Oct 18 2BOB MOULD Oct 22 2SECONDHAND SERENADE Oct 26 2GENITORTURERS Oct 27 2BLING OUT THE DEAD TOUR Oct 28 2THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Oct 31 2BUTCHER BABIES Nov 1 2NOMADIC MASSIVE Nov 2 2AN EVENING WITH DEER TICK Nov 3 2A LATIN JAZZ SOIRÉE Nov 5 2PROPAGANDHI Nov 8 2NE OBLIVISCARIS Nov 9 2FESTERVAL NIGHT TWO: DEAD KENNEDYS Nov 10 2SILVERSTEIN Nov 11 2VINTAGE TROUBLE Nov 12 2BLOODLETTING NORTH AMERICA TOUR XI Nov 15 2DESERT DWELLERS Nov 18 2GARY NUMAN Nov 23 2THE DREADNOUGHTS Nov 24 2BELPHEGOR Nov 28 2PERE UBU Nov 30 2THE PACK A.D. Dec 8 2JULIEN BAKER Dec 9 ST. JAMES HALL 3214 W. 10th, 604-7363022. 2GARNET ROGERS Sep 23 2EARLY SPIRIT Sep 29 2MOSES SUMNEY Sep 30 2DON ROSS AND CALUM GRAHAM Oct 5 2TRIO DA KALI: MASTERS OF MALI Oct 6 2DAVID FRANCEY Oct 19 2DAVID FRANCEY Oct 20 2JAWS OF LOVE Nov 11 2DON MCGLASHAN Nov 24 VENUE 881 Granville, 604-646-0064. 2J RODDY WALSTON AND THE BUSINESS Sep 23 2GOLDIE Sep 27 2WE CAME AS ROMANS Sep 30 2SHOUT OUT LOUDS Nov 12 2COLLIE BUDDZ Dec 13 VOGUE THEATRE 918 Granville, 604-5691144. 2GOLDFRAPP Sep 22 2FUTURE ISLANDS Sep 25 2STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW PODCAST Sep 26 2VANCE JOY Sep 27 2BEN FOLDS Sep 30 2FEIST Oct 1 2JON BELLION Oct 2 2NICK MURPHY Oct 9 2HANSON Oct 18 2WHITEHORSE Oct 19 2YELAWOLF Oct 24 2HOODIE ALLEN Oct 25 2MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL Oct 26 2$UICIDEBOY$ Nov 4 2KING KRULE Nov 5 2LANY Nov 9 2SONREAL Nov 10 2DANIEL CAESAR Nov 12 2ILANA GLAZER AND PHOEBE ROBINSON Nov 16 2HILLTOP HOODS Nov 18 2FLYING LOTUS IN 3D Nov 20 2ARCH ENEMY AND TRIVIUM Nov 23 2SYD Nov 24 2ANGUS AND JULIA STONE Nov 28 WISE HALL 1882 Adanac, 604-254-5858. 2PLANET PINKISH Sep 20 2HONEY TONGUES Sep 21 2BOOTS AND THE HOOTS Sep 22 2HIP SHAKIN’ MAMAS Sep 22 2GLAM SLAM WRESTLING VII Sep 23 2ADAM FARNSWORTH Sep 25 2BALKAN SHMALKAN Sep 27 2A GIRL IN TEEN CITY Oct 12 2THE CREEPSHOW Oct 24 2DAVID MYLES Oct 29
TIME OUT MUSIC LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. We can’t guarantee inclusion, and we give priority to events taking place within one week of publication. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
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On the Lovecast , Dan chats with Slate writer Mark Joseph Stern about left-wing antiSemitism: savagelovecast. com. Email: mail@savagelove. net . Follow Dan on Twitter @fakedansavage. ITMFA.org.
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savage love I am a 35-year-old straight guy. I met a nice lady through the normal methods, and we hit it off and have grown closer. I think we are both considering “taking it to the next level”. We are on the same intellectual wavelength, enjoy the same social experiences, and have a lot of fun together. So what could be the problem? My friend decided it was the time to inform me that she is transgender, preop, and will not be having genderreassignment surgery. This was quite a shock to me. I’m not homophobic, though I’ve never had a gay experience. I’m open-minded, yet there is a mental block. I like this person, I like our relationship thus far, and I want to continue this relationship. But I’m in a state of confusion. > CONFUSED OVER COMPLICATING KNOWLEDGE
Lemme get this out of the way first, COCK: The nice lady isn’t a man, so sex with her wouldn’t be a “gay experience” and homophobia isn’t the relevant term. Moving on… You’re a straight guy, you’re attracted to women, and some women— as you now know—have dicks. Are you into dick? Could you develop a
PRESENTS
taste for dick? Could you see yourself making an exception for her dick? It’s fine if “no” is the answer to one or all of these questions, COCK, and not being into dick doesn’t make you transphobic. Evan Urquhart, who writes about trans issues for Slate, argues that in addition to being gay, straight, bi, pan, demi, et cetera, some people are phallophiles and some are vaginophiles—that is, some people (perhaps most) have a strong preference for either partners with dicks or partners with vaginas. And some people—most people—want their dicks on men and their labia on/vaginas in women. “There’s no shame in it, as long as it doesn’t come from a place of ignorance or hate,” Urquhart writes. “Mature adults should be able to talk plainly about their sexuality, particularly with prospective partners, in a way that doesn’t objectify or shame anyone who happens to be packing the nonpreferred equipment.” Some straight guys are really into dick (trans women with male partners usually aren’t partnered with gay men, and trans women who do sex work typically don’t have any gay male clients), some straight guys are willing to make an exception for a
> BY DAN SAVAGE particular dick (after falling in love with a woman who has one), but most straight guys aren’t into dick (other than their own). Since you’re confused about what to do, COCK, I would encourage you to continue dating this woman, keep an open mind, and keep taking things slow. You’ve got new information to process, and some things—or one thing—to think about before taking this relationship to the next level. But don’t drag it out. If you conclude that the dick is a deal-breaker, end this relationship with compassion and alacrity. You don’t want to keep seeing her “to be nice” if you know a relationship isn’t possible. Because letting someone live in false hope is always a dick move.
A few months ago, I started dat-
ing someone. I made it clear early on that I didn’t feel comfortable being in a nonmonogamous relationship. They said that’s not usually what they’re into but they weren’t interested in seeing anyone else and they had no problem being monogamous. It’s not that I don’t trust them, and they’ve never given any indication that they’re unhappy with our arrangement, but I can’t shake the fears that, though they won’t admit it (maybe even to
themselves), they’d prefer it if our relationship were more open and I’m taking something important away from them. Can someone who usually doesn’t “do” monogamy feel fulfilled in a “closed” relationship? Can it work out, or will they just slowly grow to resent me for this? > DELIRIOUSLY ANXIOUS MONOGAMIST NERVOUSLY INQUIRES TODAY
year. We have small kids. We reconciled four months after the divorce, despite the affair I had. I have a history of self-sabotage, but in my relationship with him, it has become near constant. Everyone thinks I’m a smart and kind person that occasionally makes mistakes, but I’m not that person with him. With him, I’m awful. I make promises I don’t keep and I don’t do the right things to make him feel loved even though I do loving things. We have been in couples therapy a number of times, but I always derail the process. I have been in therapy solo a number of times with similar results. I always get the therapists on my side and no real change happens. I want to change but I haven’t. I want to stop hurting him but I keep doing it. He doesn’t feel like I have ever really fought for him or the relationship. Why can’t I change?
If you stay together forever—what most people mean by “work out”— your partner will definitely grow to resent you. It could be for this reason, DAMNIT, or for some other reason, but all people in long-term relationships resent their partners for something. So if monogamy is the price of admission this person is willing to pay, let them pay it. There are a lot of > MY ENRAGING SELFpeople out there in closed relationSABOTAGING YEARNINGS ships who would rather be in open ones and vice versa. And remember: What works for you as a couple—and It’s unlikely I’ll be able to do for you in what you want as an individual—can print what three couples counselors and all those therapists couldn’t do change over time. for you in person, i.e., help you change My relationship with my hus- your ways—if, indeed, it’s your ways band is bad. We have been together that require changing. Have you for 12 years, and we were married for ever entertained the thought that eight years before getting divorced last see page 126
DAN SAVAGE WITH ESTHER PEREL
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